Government has commended the Kasama District Health Office for providing adolescent friendly platforms to discuss issues affecting them especially reproductive health.

Northern Province Permanent Secretary Bernard Mpundu says the development has come at a time when parents or  most guardians hardly have no time to discuss reproductive health with their children.

Mr. Mpundu stresses that adolescents lack valuable information on sexual and mental health from parents and guardians, who are supposed to be the first to share information before experts from various ministries come in.

He said this at the 2024 Kasama District Adolescent Health Indaba, held under the theme:”  Enhancing Prevention Through Meaningful Adolescent and Young People’s Engagement, Innovation, and Leadership. “

Stressing that the theme for this year’s Indaba is timely, he however the increased cases of substance abuse and alcoholism among adolescents saying the trend may cut short their lives and aspirations.

“ The enormous burden of HIV, sexual reproductive health, and drug and substance abuse issues among adolescents and young people has necessitated immediate, comprehensive interventions by all stakeholders.

“ The purpose of this adolescent Indaba is to develop high quality HIV and sexual reproductive health rights interventions to reduce child marriage, repeated pregnancy, and other vices that may disturb the future of a child, “ he said.

And Kasama District Health Director in Charge of Administration Christopher Kombe said adolescents in Indaba will help the government and other stakeholders understand some of the challenges young people are facing, especially in sexual health.

Stressing that adolescents and young people have become vulnerable to issues of sexual health, Dr. Kombe said that he hoped that at the end of the indaba, tangible results that provide solutions to issues affecting adolescents and young people in society.

Dr. Kombe said government and other stakeholders are worried about the rise in cases of teen pregnancy, HIV infections, and drunkenness and substance abuse among adolescents and young people.

Meanwhile, Andrew Mutale, a pupil at Chafwa Day Secondary School, has thanked government for coming up with such an event, which is, according to adolescents and young people, an opportunity to air their views freely.

Mr. Mutale said young people are being abused sexually by elders in the communities they are coming from, and they do not know where to report it.