MANYINGA District of North-Western Province Has recorded an increase in early marriages and pregnancies among local girls who are out of school due to the outbreak the Coronavirus.
The sad development has raised concern among stakeholders in the district and have called for enhanced fight against the pandemic.
Manyinga Stakeholders Association Chairman, Patrick Kamboyi, said it is disheartening that many school going girls were getting married or pregnant immediately schools were closed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Mr Kamboyi said this in an interview in Manyinga yesterday.
“It is unfortunate that many girls who are affected are those in rural areas because of lack of information. In rural communities there is no much activity for youths especially girls, as boys are kept busy through football, so the danger for girls to fall pregnant or getting married early is high,” he said.
Mr Kamboyi urged parents and guardians to ensure that the girls were inculcated with Christian and moral values and enrol them for extra lessons.
He said the parents must counsel their children on the importance of education as they wait for the reopening of schools under the new normal.
And Headman Vilembuluka in Senior Chief Sikufele’sChiefdom has called for total adherence to the public health guidelines.
He advised villagers to always mask up in public places, conduct regular handwashing and observing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
– ZANIS
