With a recent situation report revealing that over 20% of all pregnancies in Guyana occur among adolescents, First Lady Sandra Granger has called for age appropriate health and family life education programmes at all education levels.
According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, the report, Situation Analysis of Adolescent Pregnancy in Guyana, was launched yesterday. The report was handed over to the First Lady and Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, by UNICEF Representative Sylvie Fouet.
In the release, it was also noted that the report highlights that there are several socio-economic, regional and ethnic differences in the rates of teen pregnancies, with the hinterland regions carrying higher rates than the coastal regions.
Mrs Granger, in her address, had noted that appropriate education programmes will foster understanding and tolerance among adolescents and help them to be “better informed and more capable of making educated choices in relation to their sexual and reproductive health”.
“We have to be very straightforward when we look at these things and what methodology we use to capture all the young people in this cohort to educate and empower them. How do we approach health and family life education and sexual and reproductive health when some teachers claim to be uncomfortable with the subject?” Mrs Granger asked.
The release also stated that the First Lady called for greater participation from teen fathers in existing programmes which are geared toward enhancing the life of their teen partners, and noted the impact such involvement can have on the social and economic development of teen moms and their children.
Mrs Granger also commended the work of the Health Ministry in providing services to teen parents.
Meanwhile, Lawrence related that the data in the report will inform an action plan which is being drafted in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“Apart from sharing contraceptives and apart from sharing information, the Ministry of Public Health must now collaborate with the Ministry of Social Protection and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs to also address the social determinants that are contributing to the issue,” Lawrence was quoted as saying.
She also acknowledged the work of the Peace Corps, which is working along with teens in remote regions.
Yesterday’s event was also attended by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative Adler Bynoe, Consultant for the study, Dr. Morris Edwards, representatives of the Ministry of Social Protection, and children from several city schools.
