PROACTIVE STEP IN ADDRESSING THE ALARMING TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND CHILD MARRIAGES IN PETAUKE DISTRICT
Save the Children, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, the District Council,the Victim Support Unit of the Zambia Police, and the Lucy Grand Foundation has taken a proactive step in addressing the alarming teenage pregnancy and child marriages in petauke district. The village of Nyati, within the district, has been identified as one of the hotspots and is being used for dialogue meetings aimed at combating these violations. Petauke district currently ranks as the second-highest in terms of teenage pregnancies within Eastern Province according to government reports, signaling an urgent need for intervention. The ongoing dialogue meetings serve as a platform for engaging with community leaders, parents, children, adolescents and various community members, to come together and act to protect the children in their community. “Educating our children should be priority and not marrying them off” Ruth Grand – Lucy Grand Foundation Founder “Ensure that you report every case of child marriage to the Victim Support Unit at the police” Mr Sitwala- Victim support Unit “Marrying off a child has health implications on her which may even be as serious as death especially when giving birth” Doreen Kangombe – Ministry of Health #EndChildmarriages #Endteenpregnancies #childrenmustsurvivelearnbeprotected Lucy Grand Foundation Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Zambia Ministry of Health Zambia of