Kalingalinga Clinic in Lusaka district today engaged in community sensitisation activities to commemorate the World Contraceptive Day.
Kalingalinga Clinic Facility In-Charge, Chisuwa Kapumba, told ZANIS in an interview that the community sensitisation programmes are aimed at increasing awareness levels on contraceptive methods.
“This week, we have been conducting community outreach programmes where we have been able to give family planning to community members,” Ms Kapumba said.
And Kalingalinga Clinic Contraceptive Provider under Maternal and Child Health Department, Hellen Manda, disclosed that the institution has today received over 50 people asking for contraceptives.
Ms Manda further said male involvement in contraceptive matters has continued to be a challenge.
She said only two females have been accompanied by their partners to get contraceptives during the week.
And Kalingalinga resident, Edina Chishala, encouraged other women to be on family planning as it helps to control child spacing and help parents to provide a favourable environment for raising children.
Meanwhile, Petauke Day Secondary School Management have revealed that the education facility has recorded a decrease in the number of teen pregnancy cases among its learners.
School Head Teacher Elita Salanga says the school recorded 34 cases in 2021, noting that the school has only currently recorded three to four pregnancy cases among its learners, this year.
Speaking during the cascading of the Children’s Voices Matter Project and trainer of trainers training on child participation, Ms Salanga attributed the decrease in pregnancy cases at her school to the various interventions from government and partners like the Zambia Civic Education Association (ZCEA).
“Teen pregnancies have reduced because of the capacity buildings given to us. Like at my school, I can say there has been an 80 percent decrease in the number of pregnancy cases. For instance, in 2021 we were at 38 pregnancies but now it is three or four pupils,” she said.
And speaking at the same training, Save the Children Petauke District Child Protection Coordinator Elijah Nsonge said his institution has installed water reticulation systems to more than 21 schools in the district, in efforts to fight teen pregnancies and child marriage.
“We have over 21 schools that have been empowered with water reticulation systems. We have increased our coverage of various child protection services to 82 schools from 33 schools,” he said.
Meanwhile Eastern Province Senior Child Development Officer Glentwyn Chinjili appreciated the various departments in the district that were implementing child protection programmes, in order to uphold the wellbeing of the children in need.
