Only 13% of adolescents use contraceptives during sex – Health Minister

OF sexually active adolescents between the ages of 15-19, only 13% were found to be using contraceptives in sexual relationships which results in teenage pregnancies and other complications, Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, has said The Health Minister was at the time speaking at a two-day Inter-Ministerial policy workshop that commenced Thursday to address Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Care. The event is being hosted at the Grand Coastal Hotel.
In attendance was Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Boyle, Chief Education Officer (ag) Marcel Hutson and other officials in the sector.
In further highlighting the statistics from a situational analysis done by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Norton said statistics also revealed that 13.5% of girls between 15-19 years old were either living home or cohabiting with a male. “How can the rights of these children be protected when they are denied an education because of teenage pregnancy, this is happening now more than ever before,” the minister underscored.
He explained that circumstances such as poverty stand out like a sore thumb, in addition to abuse and violence. “Abuse is something we have to eradicate with our young people, and many times tradition is used as a means of hiding or explaining the wrongs and of course we can mention religious beliefs,” Minister Norton said.
He disclosed that the child protection agency reported that there were 60 cases of child sexual abuse in 2014, while there were 789 cases of neglect of children, “what about those that were not reported?”
The minister urged the inter-ministerial collaboration to closely examine and further synchronise systems in place to combat issues plaguing the adolescent population of Guyana. He opined that there is need for more methodical collaboration on programmes that are implemented and being planned for the adolescent and youth population
Chief Medical Officer Shamdeo Persaud said the Ministry of Public Health is implementing its 2020 health vision strategy that includes health coverage for all.
He said health literacy can reduce four main risk factors: an unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, smoking and alcohol use.
“Those four factors, if addressed head on, can probably see some changes in the way how disease profiles are emerging,” Persaud said.
Chief Education Officer (ag) Marcel Hutson said too many young girls have become pregnant and without proper support mechanisms they will become school dropouts. Noting that there is also an issue with violence and substance abuse in communities and schools, the chief education officer said children who are not taught properly believe such lifestyle choices are acceptable.
Further, Hutson said the Education Ministry will be teaming up with the Public Health Ministry to develop areas of policy to implement with regard to school health.
“This should guarantee the physical, mental and emotional health and well-being of Guyana’s children,” he noted.

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