 |
| Director of Public health Mombasa County Dr Shem Patta photo Peter Kombe |
Dream Achievers Youth Organization (DAYO) a youth
led organization in Mombasa County on has officially launched a sexuality
reproductive health and rights program at Bliss Hotel Nyali Sub County.
The program dubbed Sexual Reproductive Health Youth Advocacy
in Mombasa (SYAM) will be implemented at Ziwa la Ngombe in Nyali
Sub County Mombasa County.
 |
| DAYO officials and Dr Shem Patta 9seated in blue shirt) and county education and health officials during the launch at Bliss Hotel on Friday |
Dr. Patta at the same time lauded efforts by some schools
in Mombasa County that have inculcated adolescents and youth programs to
address the challenge of teenage pregnancy.
“This program has come at the right time. This is
not a one man show. We need to join hands as stakeholders so that we can reduce
these cases” Dr Patta noted
The director noted that teenage pregnancy is real
and should therefore be addressed adequately.
He says latest statistics indicates that Mombasa County
stands at 17 per cent in cases of teenage pregnancy.
“Teenage pregnancy is real and we should therefore
come out and speak against it” he stated
Dr Patta “added the launch of this program will
ensure that youths are imparted with the necessary knowledge on sexuality
education”
The director assured DAYO officials of a ballooned
support in the implementation of the SYAM program.
He further indicated that the health department will
soon set up youth friendly facilities in different parts of Mombasa County in
order for youth access services.
“Plans are in the pipeline so that we can set youth
friendly facilities in different areas of this county” he noted
 |
| Senior County education and health officials following proceedings of the event |
Meanwhile Zelipha Muriithi Mombasa County Assistant Director of Quality Assurance Standards and Child care
in the Department of Education ICT
and MV 2035 says teenage pregnancy still remains a challenge in the
entire county.
The AD argues that there is need to empower youths
on sexuality education in a bid to impart them with the rightful knowledge.
“Teenage pregnancy is still a challenge here. We are
therefore required to teach our youths on the effects of engaging in early sex”
she exclaimed
She is of the opinion that the country risks losing
a generation if the matter is not adequately addressed.
She called on concerted efforts by different stakeholders including the entire health sector and the civil society in order
to address the problem.
“If we fail to address this, I’m afraid we shall
lose an entire generation” she noted
Hellen Nthiga Youth Director in the department of Youth, Gender Sports and Culture Mombasa County says the
youth department in Mombasa County is cognizant of the existence of teenage
pregnancy.
She says teenage pregnancy require combined efforts
by different stakeholders including among others the political class, religious
leaders and the lobby groups.
“We are aware of this challenge. This is something
that needs the efforts of all stakeholders. Our political leadership religious
leaders and lobby groups should be at the fore front in championing for the
rights of our youths” she stated
She applauded DAYO’s
efforts in championing for the rights of the youth in the county.
 |
| Enos Opiyo DAYO Programs Coordinator facilitating the event at Bliss Hotel on Friday |
Opiyo is of the opinion that youths need to be imparted
with the rightful information on matters surrounding sexual health if teenage pregnancy
is to be contained.
“We have to give our youth the right knowledge, that
is educating them on the their rights” he noted
He called on concerted efforts by all the
stakeholders across the divide to address the challenge of teenage pregnancy.
 |
| Seif Jira, founder of Dream Achievers Youth Organisation (DAYO) |
Comments
Post a Comment