Community health workers raise concern over hidden premature pregnancies

{Community health volunteers from Huye district have expressed worries over girls that get impregnated prematurely and fail to come out in the open to seek antenatal services, putting their lives and that of unborn babies in danger.}

Community health workers have, in their responsibilities, to follow up daily life of a pregnant mother, counseling her and helping her to respect medical advice.

Community health volunteers argue that concealing information about girls’ pregnancies results in a variety of negative consequences including loss of lives for pregnant girls or begetting a child having various health risks including HIV infections.

“It is a great challenge since a girl hides information about premature pregnancy and only to the health center when she is about to give to birth or gives birth at home,” said one community health volunteer.

Another challenge revealed is that some girls fear medical tests because of cultural issues that leaves pregnant girls in a sea of shame.

“We have another challenge related to culture where girls hide information about pregnancy thinking she will be poisoned,” she added.

Parliamentarians recently talked about the issue of girls who conceal their pregnancy when they visited Kabutare hospital .They said mobilization would be a better platform of addressing the matter.

“Firstly we have to protect children’s life and create increased awareness among girls to adopt government programs,” said Senator Sebuhoro.

Parliamentarians have also stressed that a child needs to be registered in no more than 15 days after birth.