Five pregnant schoolgirls and their parents were arrested in Tandahimba, Tanzania, as part of measures to crackdown on the rising rate of teenage pregnancies, in the region.
According to The East African, they were released on bail not too long after the arrest.
District Administrative Secretary Mohamed Azizi, revealed that authorities are still looking for the men who impregnated the girls, as they disappeared shortly after a warrants were issued for their arrest.
“We have managed to arrest the girls and their parents but unfortunately those who impregnated the girls have escaped and we are looking for them,” he said.
But we’ve got to ask guys: How does arresting the pregnant teens, parents, and perpetrators solve anything? Surely, there must be some more effective means of reducing teen pregnancies. E.g: Government or school-sponsored sex education programs for BOTH girls and boys, in which topics like sexual abstinence, safe sex, contraception, reproductive rights, reproductive health, etc. Empowering all parties with this knowledge will ensure that the implications of sexual activity are well understood, thus leading to more informed decision-making.
As for girls who are already pregnant, proper counseling is needed to educate them (as well as their parents) about how to handle the situation whilst living a healthy and happy life.
Seriously, dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be quite overwhelming for the average teen. Why compound the issue with jail time? Tsk tsk.
Oh and by the way, Tanzanian President John Magufuli, isn’t exactly helping matters at the moment. During a campaign rally in June 2017, he stated:
“As long as I am president … no pregnant student will be allowed to return to school … After getting pregnant, you are done.”
Punitive measures aren’t the answer, sir.
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