Kenya’s adolescent girls and young people continue to experience increased rates of teenage pregnancies including new HIV Infections.
In statistics released last week, the Ministry of Health said in the first two months, there were 45,000 teen pregnancies.
Out of these, 2,196 cases were from Sexual and gender-based violence in adolescents aged 12 and 17 years.
This means over 2,000 girls were defiled either by adults or minor to minor sexual encounters.
Furthermore, 98 girls get HIV every week due to gender violence.
It is worrying that the ministries in charge of these social and health issues are not moving with speed to sort this always increasing social and health issue.
The Health ministry is burdened by all these issues including HIV, STIs and unsafe abortion, while schools get imbalanced due to school dropouts by girls who get pregnant early.
Unexpected pregnancy changes the trajectory of a girl’s life and leaves her girl with long-lasting physical, socioeconomic and psychological ramifications.
These high rates of unintended pregnancies can be reduced by equipping our children with age-appropriate and need appropriate sexual and reproductive health education.
Access to safe abortion as is the right of any sexual violence survivor should be availed by the Ministry of Health, as is mentioned in the National guidelines on the management of Sexual Violence.
Forcing or brainwashing any girl to keep an unintended pregnancy has much more effects on the girl's mental, emotional and physical health and well-being.
Stigmatising or mystifying sex education only raises curiosity. It’s time to speak up. Living in denial and burying our heads in the sand will not cut it.
Speaking about sex should not be seen as taboo, it should not be seen as it will increase sexual behaviours and activities among young people.
Sex and Sexuality education is not only about sex, but also about social and health issues that young people are facing.
As a country, we need to acknowledge that young people are engaging in sexual activities and are vulnerable to teenage pregnancies and many other reproductive health challenges.
We should protect them and ensure they make well-informed choices about their health and general well being.
By providing them with age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education we will be able to give them a chance to make decisions about their bodies.
The concerned ministries and stakeholders should develop and avail age-appropriate comprehensive sex education to all persons.
Encouraging the return to school of girls who have become pregnant should also be spearheaded through the return to school policy.
The Ministry of Health should provide access to Comprehensive Sexual reproductive health and rights education and services including contraceptives to all that need it.
The Judiciary should continue to prosecute and arrest perpetrators, rapists and defilers who are sexually violating all persons, especially young girls and women
Sexual reproductive health and rights youth specialist
Edited by Kiilu Damaris