Chief Chamuka of the Lenje People in Chisamba district in Central Province has expressed concern over the high number of adolescents engaging in premarital sexual activities in his chiefdom. 

Chief Chamuka states that there is need for parents to discard cultural norms which discourage them from openly discussing sexual matters with their children. 

ZANIS reports that Chief Chamuka said this during the District Adolescent Health Technical Working Group meeting held in Chisamba. 

“Though the use of contraceptives among adolescents is helping prevent teenage pregnancies, the rising number of users is worrying.

“This may affect our children in future including leading to them having difficulties in conceiving at a time they will need babies,” he said. 

The traditional leader urged parents and faith-based organisations to ensure they equip adolescents with the right information about Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Earlier, Acting Chisamba District Adolescent Health Focal Point Person Sipa Sichangwa reported that over 4, 000 girls in the area aged between 15 and 19 years old accessed contraceptives from health facilities across the district in 2023. 

“In 2023, 4,052 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years old accessed modern contraceptives with the highest type being medroxyprogesterone injection accessed by 2,484 clients,” Mr. Sichangwa said. 

The Health office also recorded three most common types of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) namely syphilis, male urethra discharge and vaginal discharge among adolescents aged between 15 and 24 years. 

Meanwhile, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) has trained 40 peer educators in Chisamba to be positioned in youth friendly spaces which enhance access to reproductive health among adolescents. 

YWCA Sustaining and Improving the Gains for HIV and Tuberculosis Project Officer Wendy Musonda explained that the peer educators help raise awareness on best practices on adolescent health.