Cross River State - Tackle the Problem of Teenage Pregnancy-Yakubu Urges Government

[CrossRiverState]

Hon Commissioner, Federal Commission for National Population, Barr. Idi Baba Yakubu, has called on the Cross River State Government to tackle the problem of teenage pregnancy in the State.

In his welcome address to stakeholders at a round table discussion organized by the Cross River State National Population Commission to commemorate the 2013 World Population Day held at the Mini Theatre of the Cultural Centre, Calabar, with the theme "Adolescent (Teenage) Pregnancy'', Yakubu said the problem is a health issue that the Government should be encouraged to tackle.

He said the National Population Commission was established in 1989 adding that the United Nation organizes the event annually.

 

Also speaking, the Cross River State Director of National Population Commission, Mr. Bassey Eteng said, pregnancy is the biggest killer of teen girls worldwide.

He posed questions which according to him were necessary in the Nigerian scenario: "are teen pregnancies declining in Nigeria? Why are the rates so high? What strategies are best suited for preventing teen pregnancy in Nigeria?'' maintaining that, "the more educated one is, the less likely one will get pregnant", and that the first step to curtailing the menace is that girl children should be educated.

According to the indices of 2008 National Demographic Survey, mortality ratio for adolescent (15-19)  was put at 445 deaths per 100, 000 live births and babies were 60% more likely to die if the mother is under 18, stressing  that poverty, ignorance and intercourseual abuse were responsible for teen pregnancy in Nigeria.

He opined that if formal education was free and compulsory up to secondary school level, it would help educate adolescents and prepared for the future and at the same time curtail their intercourseual involvement that will result in childbearing.

 

The NDHS Table report, stated further that South-South, teenagers who have had live births were 10.4%, teenagers pregnant with their first child were 1.5%, while the numbers of women who have had babies were, 6138.

Dr. Francis Bisong, Dean of Graduate School University of Calabar, Speaking also in his presentation, "Adolescent Pregnancy from an Economic Perspective" said, most teen mothers come from socially and or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, explaining that education is a major determinant in adolescent pregnancy and urged Government to safeguard the development and lives of the adolescents describing education as key to national building particularly in the area of economy.

Youth Representative, Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, Mrs. Pascaline Edim said in Cross River State, the highest number of teen mothers are found in the rural areas and implored the public also support the Government that will review policies to help the girl-child by educating, providing health care services including youth friendly service centres and counseling in order to redeem the future leaders of the State and beyond.

 

Goodwill messages were presented by, the Commissioner of Information, Chief Akin Ricketts Represented by Mrs. Mary Akpet, Director of Information, Vice Chairman, Prof. Ndem Ayara, State Planning Commission Governors Office, represented by Mr. Ogar Joseph, the Director, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Edak Iwuchukwu represented by Mr. Mike Nyajor, and Commissioner for Social Welfare, represented by Mrs. Efiok Eneji.