Rumphi District registers 546 teen pregnancies in 5 months

Rumphi District Hospital has registered 546 teenage pregnancies between April and September this year, compared to 471 during the same five-months period last year.

This was disclosed at the end of a three-day advocacy training for girls and young women organised by SRHR Africa Trust in the district.

Rumphi district youth-friendly health services coordinator

Tiyankhulenji Ligomeka Nyasulu said the situation required immediate attention.

“We need to team up to reduce the situation. It seems most youths deny that safe sex is possible,” she said.

Rumphi district nursing officer Bonafacio Ndovie reminded the youth not to be shy but access reproductive health services from providers.

“Most youths get unplanned pregnancies because they feel shy to visit health centres to access reproductive health services,” he said.

Speaking after the training, Lusungu Harawa said cold reception in hospitals discourages youths from seeking reproductive health services.

“Most of our hospitals have insufficient structures for youth-friendly health services,” she said.  SRHR Africa Trust youth officer Linly Dumuka said they are looking forward to building a movement of advocates who are well-informed and capacitated on progressive ways of building coalitions and partnerships with different organisations.