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Sensitization to help reduce teenage pregnancy situation in Region One
Aggressive moves are being kicked into motion to address a daunting teenage pregnancy situation in Region One. This is according to Regional Health Officer [RHO] of Region One, Dr. Latchmie Lall.
Regional Health Officer of Region One, Dr. Latchmie Lall,
Dr. Lall, who recently shed light on the situation, assured that thus far, from a medical standpoint, “We have been doing our best”.
This, however, does not mean that more cannot be done since, according to the RHO, she and her staffers still have concerns about the prevailing situation.
It was initially reported that the teenage pregnancy situation was being fueled by the influx of Venezuelan migrants. However, Dr. Lall has since ascertained that while some migrants are involved in the burgeoning situation, the majority of cases are Region One residents.
She disclosed that of the 259 reported cases of teenage pregnancies that occurred between the period January and November of 2019, only a small number were found to be from the migrant population.
The RHO said that from the accounts of several teenage pregnant mothers, unemployment and economic challenges are the primary factors driving this social issue. “There is evidently a need for serious attention to be placed on addressing this social challenge,” said Dr. Lall.
She added, “There is definitely cause for concern as with numbers like these with just a very small amount representing migrants, it tells you that definitely something is wrong and whatever it is we will have to address it.”
The RHO disclosed that while in 2018 there were 152 reported cases of teenage pregnancy, the 259 cases as at November 2019 suggests that there is a need for a concentrated approach in educating and sensitizing residents about teenage pregnancy.
“There is certainly a need to educate residents so that they can become aware that while there is a lot of teenage pregnancies going on around them that it shouldn’t be a trend that they should follow as there are a number of challenges that come with teenage pregnancy,” she noted.
She continued, “We have seen as young as a 12-year-old giving birth and what it tells us is that a number of our young girls are sexually active from an early age.
As such, there is need for more education because several of these girls are challenged in their own way and with limited opportunities for them in many ways the end results of sexual intercourse may be pregnancy.”
Dr. Lall highlighted, too, the need for the collaboration of various stakeholders to address this challenge. Moreover, her department has been working in collaboration with a number of agencies including the Child Care and Protection Agency.
Meanwhile, Dr. Lall said that the Region is continuing to keep its attention on the migrant population. According to her, registration and vaccination of the migrants is an ongoing process. “We have been receiving great support and cooperation from the migrants getting vaccinated and registered and that process is moving along,” she said.
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