Parents urged to support girls to curb teen pregnancies

Thava Ward councillor Rain Namalomba (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) from Thyolo Thava Constituency has encouraged parents to provide basic necessities for their daughters to curb teen pregnancies and child marriages in the district.

She said this on Sunday when she alongside Thyolo Thava legislator Mary Navicha (DPP) donated a wheelchair to a girl with a disability, Jacqueline Masamba of group village head (GVH) Samson in Traditional Authority Khwethemule in the district.

Namalomba said many girls aged between 10 and 17 are getting pregnant and going into marriages because some parents fail to provide them with necessities, such as clothes and sanitary materials.

She said: “We are seeing many girls getting into relationships at a young age because some parents are failing to provide them with basic necessities. Parents need to take full responsibility as their children grow,” she said.

Namalomba said parents should not leave the responsibility of caring for their children to other people because doing so exposes girls to abuse and exploitation.

Meanwhile, GVH Samson has said traditional leaders have introduced by-laws to protect children from abuse.

He said the by-laws are helping to discourage child neglect and other practices that contribute to school dropout among girls.

Speaking after receiving the wheelchair, Jacqueline’s grandmother Lydia Petro thanked the two leaders for the support.

She said carrying the girl on her back had become difficult and the wheelchair will make it easier for the family to move her from one place to another.

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