LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The scanting report which World Vision has released on Thursday, February 25, 2021 reveals that about 40,000 and 13,000 pregnancy and child marriages cases respectively were recorded during the schools closure in last year over Covid-19
The report also shows that Mangochi had large numbers of child marriages (5941 cases) while Lilongwe (5675 teenage pregnancy cases) during school closure over Covid-19 from March to September, 2020.
Presenting the report titled, “Impact of Covid-19 on education” to Parliamentary Committees on Education and Welfare, World Vision Education Technical Program Manager Andreah Nkhonde the cause of both child marriages and pregnancies including sexual violence, exploitation, impunity, lack of justice, and sexual and reproductive health education and services and conflict settings.
The report adds that rural areas are the ones dominating in teenage pregnancies and child marriages as cases continue to increase.
World Vision Advocacy, communication and child protection manager Lizzie Lombe shared the report to lawmakers to advance child education policies.
Lombe expects legislators to come up with enabling policies that support girl child education amid Covid-19 spike.
“We expect lawmakers to understand the report with kin interest for corroboration intervention to content the vices of early marriages and pregnancies as cases continue to increase.
“There should be enabling policy environment to allow access to education by eliminating policies and practices that expel pregnant girls and establishing continuation policies and strategies to facilitate the continued education of pregnant girls and adolescent mothers,” urges Lombe.
Chairperson for Parliamentary committee on Social and Community Welfare who is also Dedza North West lawmaker Asapero Kafwafwa assured the nation of his committee of coming out with enabling policies to content the vice.
Kafwafwa observes that there is misconception on access to sexual reproduction services among locals that its uptake remains a taboo.
He however appealed for mindset change on sexual reproduction services uptake in the country that will contain early pregnancies.