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Youths from Chinunkha Youth Club in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwaulambya in Chitipa have expressed concern over the rise in number of pregnancies of underage girls.
Matron for the Club Chikondi Chayima said that sixteen percent of pregnant patients registered at Kaseye Mission Hospital in 2019 were girls under the age of eighteen.
She has bemoaned lack awareness of youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services available at the facility as a major cause of these pregnancies.
“We call for support for Chinunkha Youth Club to reach more youth as a way of reversing the trend,” she said.
The Vice Chairperson of the club , Chrissy Sibale added that they have many cases of pregnancies because many youths do not use contraceptive methods.
“Most of the youth are shy to go to clinics for contraceptives and this puts them at a risk of getting unwanted pregnancies,” said Sibale.
Group village headman Mbegani from Chinunkha said he is disappointed with the development in his area because many girls are dropping out of school due to early pregnancies.
He has urged parents in the area to advice their children on the dangers of early pregnancies and measures that they should follow to avoid the pregnancies.
