Prisca Oroma
Alur kingdom has started to implement a new project aim at reducing maternal death, early pregnancy, early marriage and sexual gender-based violence and reduced new Hiv infection.
Speaking during the orientation of the traditional leaders recently Modest Kinawa, (SRHR) Sexual Reproductive Health Rights officer said that the project is currently running in six districts including Nebbi, Pakwach and 85 villages and the Kingdom has a role to play in reaching the young people and helping them know their sexual reproductive health rights.
“Working together with the kingdom will help us easily reach these young people since they directly work with the community”.
He said that so far, they are supporting 167 facilities and 861 primary and 82 secondary schools and trained senior female and male teachers to help support the learners.
He urged traditional leaders to encourage youths to remain in school and by improving retention and completion rate of boys and girls in primary and secondary schools there will be reduction in the number of teenage pregnancies and early marriage.
Emmanuel Okello Consortium MEAL advisor noted that teenage pregnancy is still high in the district, yet few go to deliver from the hospital which means that many still go to traditional birth attendants.
He called on the tradition leaders to encourage men to be more involved in antenatal care because only a few support their wives during pregnancy and this leads low antenatal attendance which leads to risky pregnancy.
Meanwhile Chief Ongewun Florino of Paminya attributed the continuous increase in teenage pregnancy and early marriage to modernization and discos which has become rampant and urged the kingdom to come up with a bylaw to regulate discos within the kingdom.
Patrick Muziga the chief of Parombo said that there is need to introduce fireplaces in homes so that the youths can learn about sexual reproductive health rights.
Jepter Urom blamed the religious and traditional leader for contributing towards the surge of teenage pregnancy and early marriage by failing to talk about it openly.
“Elders should report cases of abuse and early marriage instead of trying to handle it from home” he added
Vincent Ochaya Orach Executive Director called on parents to take girls who have given birth back to school instead of marrying them off.
“Most of these girls who get pregnant early are willing to continue with studies but are failed by their parents yet if they focus, they can become role model to many.” he said.
He also encouraged the Chiefs to use the marriage guidelines available play forms to fight early marriages.
Onencan Gilbert the Nebbi District Senior Principal Officer said there is need to continue to promote the good cultural practices especially at family levels.
“Unfortunately, when it comes to our culture, there is no model family and the cultural teachings which helped the past generation has slowly faded” he noted.
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