Action Health Moves to Check Teenage Pregnancy
Florence Udoh
Champion Newspapers
September 30, 2004

Unwanted pregnancy in adolescents was the topic of discussion at the conference hall of the Action Health Incorporated, a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation last Friday. The theme of the one-day seminar was “What teens need to know about preventing Teen pregnancy.” 

At the interactive forum put together by Action Health Incorporated, in pursuance of promoting dialogue and informed debate on issues of sexuality and reproductive health and rights and its impact on nation building, a number of adolescents from various secondary schools exchanged ideas and opinions about the issues and how it affects them directly. 

In a chat with Champion Health, the Executive Director of Action Health Incorporated, Mrs. Nike Eshiet, was affirmative of the fact that adolescent pregnancy is an issue that cannot be ignored in the society. 

“We decided to focus on teenage pregnancy as unwanted pregnancy in adolescence is a very disturbing problem since they face certain risks such as unsafe abortion and other such related risks.” 

Pointing out that adolescents aged 10-19 years of age comprise about a fifth of the world’s population, which is equivalent to 1.2 billion young persons according to the 2004 estimates of UNICEF, Mrs. Eshiet argued that it had become imperative that the voices of the youth be heard on issues concerning their today and tomorrow. 

Key issues discussed at the forum included, “Early Abortion and Pregnancy – the inherent danger,” Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs), HIV/AIDS and making choices. 

Questions asked included, what are the possible consequences of getting pregnant while still in school and not yet married, If any of your friends got pregnant, where would you advise her to go for help; How can you protect yourself from HIV and STIs infection? 

The adolescents were thus advised strongly to practice abstinence as a sure way of guarding against unwanted pregnancy. 

But for any reason, they do indulge in sex and it results in pregnancy; they were advised to seek the forgiveness of their parents/guardian and to go ahead and deliver the baby who could then be placed in an orphanage if such a baby is not accepted by them or their parents. The issue of abortion, the NGO boss averred is never the best option.