Mathias Mangeni, Assistant District Health Officer for Namayingo, noted that teenage pregnancy in the Busoga sub-region stands at 26%. He emphasized that youth must be directly involved in tackling teenage pregnancy, rather than being excluded from the decision-making process.
Leaders in Namayingo District have pledged to prioritize young people in the fight against teenage pregnancies and early marriages. This commitment was made at the launch of the BOLD campaign, held at Banda Secondary School in partnership with the Ministry of Health, USAID Social Behavior Change, and other stakeholders. The campaign is focused on addressing the high teenage pregnancy rates in Namayingo District.
Mathias Mangeni, Assistant District Health Officer for Namayingo, noted that teenage pregnancy in the Busoga sub-region stands at 26%. He emphasized that youth must be directly involved in tackling teenage pregnancy, rather than being excluded from the decision-making process.
Mangeni highlighted the importance of keeping children, especially girls, in school, observing that girls outnumber boys in early primary levels but drop out significantly by primary six, often due to early marriages. He stressed the need to improve access to family planning for young people.
//Cue in: "Teenage pregnancy was...
Cue out: ...answer these issues". //
Ritah Tamubula, a midwife at Bumoli Health Center III, shared that many teenage and adolescent mothers attend the facility for antenatal care (ANC). To prevent stigma, the health center designated a specific day for teenage mothers to visit.
Tamubula reported that around 50 teenage and adolescent mothers visit monthly for ANC and family planning, which is encouraging for future reduction in teenage pregnancies in Namayingo.
//Cue in: "They have been...
Cue out: ...aware of the services". //
Dr. Richard Kabanda, Head of Health Promotion, Education, and Health Communication at the Ministry of Health, underscored that preventing teenage pregnancy is not solely a health matter, but one that should involve the Ministry of Gender as well. He explained that the BOLD campaign empowers youth to make their own choices, believe in themselves, and live with purpose. Kabanda urged parents, guardians, and teachers to support youth by modeling positive behaviors.
//Cue in: "The development of the campaign...
Cue out: ...practices that we have here". //
Dr. Charles Oralo, Director of Curative Services at the Ministry of Health, representing the Permanent Secretary, described the BOLD campaign as essential for building an informed and empowered generation. He encouraged schools to integrate the BOLD campaign’s objectives to reinforce positive messages among students.
//Cue in: "The objective of...
Cue out: ...in the future". //
Jessica Hailey, Director of Health and HIV at USAID, expressed the U.S. government's commitment to supporting the BOLD campaign, along with initiatives to improve community health. Hailey also highlighted her government's support for contraceptive availability in Uganda, enabling individuals to make informed choices and plan their families effectively.
Fred Kayongo Male
Freelancer