Tanzania Bans Pregnant Girls From School

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A report in 2013 by Kenya Population Situation Analysis showed Kenya to be among the countries with a large number of adolescent pregnancies globally.

The same report revealed that in the world, 7.3 million of the live births are by girls between the age of 15 and 19 years of which two million births of this are by girls under the age of 15.

In this percentage, Kenya had 103 in every 1000 pregnancies being attributed to girls between 15 and 19 years.

The statistics indicated that 26 in every 100 girls in Kenya are married before they reach 18 years. Early marriages being prevalent in North Eastern Province, Coast Province and Nyanza province.

Tanzania faces almost the same situation, if not worse.

Approximately 20% of women in Tanzania aged 15-19 years are mothers and another 5% are pregnant for the first time.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that in Tanzania the median age at first intercourse for women is just under 17. About 15% of women aged 15-19 have had sexual intercourse for the first time by the age of 15. By the age of 15, 18,65% of women are already sexually active and by 20, about 86% are sexually active

H.E Dr. John Magufuli

The situation might have Prompted Tanzanian President H.E John Magufuli to give a directive to expel girls who get pregnant while in school.  Speaking at a public rally in Chalinze town Mr. Magufuli said:

“In my administration, as long as I am president ... no pregnant student will be allowed to return to school. We cannot allow this immoral behavior to permeate our primary and secondary schools ... never… After calculating some few mathematics, she'd be asking the teacher in the classroom: 'Let me go out and breastfeed my crying baby’…”

He went further and ordered the police to arrest and prosecute men who get students pregnant, saying convicted offenders could get up to 30 years in jail under the country's sexual offences legislation

British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) reported that Tanzania's ban on pregnant girls attending state primary and secondary schools dates back to 1961, when the country secured its independence from Britain, though it does not extend to private schools. It added that 55,000 Tanzanian schoolgirls have been expelled from school over the last decade for being pregnant,according to the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) report in 2013.Some wealthier families are able to send their daughters to private schools but the majority end up looking for casual work.

Twitter Polls

We conducted a twitter poll yesterday on our account (@NewBeginsCPC) concerning this matter. The questions registered a total of 179 respondents.

The first question read: Do you agree with TZ President H.E Magufuli that girls who get pregnant should be expelled from school? (YES/NO)

Response: 24% replied in affirmative while 76% were against this directive.

Ms Kangethe, one of the respondents said, "Absolutely NOT. That directive is unfair,  unlawful and discriminatory. A violation of their human right. In Kenya, Grannies go to school."

Our second question was: Some speculate that Magufuli sentiments may increase the rate of abortions,do you agree? (YES/NO)

Response: 70% felt this move will certainly lead to more abortions while the remaining 30% disagreed.

Our Solution:

We strive to resolve crisis pregnancies in Kenya one-girl-at-a-time, at the same time having preventive programs (abstinence campaigns.) It is likely that many girls might opt for an abortion in Tanzania or Kenya to be able to continue their education, avoid stigmatization in society among many other negative effects. Nevertheless, abortion is not the solution. We encourage them to keep the baby and seek help

We are confident that we can effectively address crisis pregnancies in our immediate environment with unique, biblical sound, holistic approaches currently unavailable throughout the Rift Valley region and other parts of Kenya.   Our staff and partners work diligently to create long-lasting change not only in the women and unborn children we work with but also within their families and societies at large.

Do you know anyone caught up in a crisis pregnancy, or are you willing to support our ministry?

Contact us:

Email:                                                   aco.newbeginnings@gmail.com

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram:   @NewBeginsCPC

Like our page on Facebook:                New Beginnings, Crisis Pregnancy Center

Website:                                              africanchristianoutreach.com/new-beginnings/

Call us:                                                 0780 733 288

                  

Our Journey: New Beginnings Crisis Pregnancy Center

From Left Anne Otieno (Director),Faith and Nancy Gatimu

The burden to walk with young ladies who are going through a crisis pregnancy is a God-given conviction that began six years ago.

With a few friends, we have been praying for a while, that someone would open a center to cater for this need here in Eldoret, because the need for such a ministry here is great. In the meantime, we have been privileged to befriend, share our lives and grow in Christ together with several ladies who have or are going through crisis pregnancies. A crisis pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy which is neither planned nor desired by the mom, consequently becoming a personal crisis for her.

In 2015, we felt the Lord leading us to start the center we have been dreaming of-a scary, overwhelming responsibility! Yet God has emboldened us. Friends have encouraged us.

The current statistics prompt us to be part of the solution. Current statistics build the case for the great need in Kenya:

• 10 % of every pregnancy in Kenya is attributed to girls aged 15 to 19, mostly unmarried and attending school.
• Nearly half (43 %) of pregnancies in Kenya are unplanned and over 40% of unplanned pregnancies end in abortion.
• An estimate of over 460,000 abortions occur in Kenya annually, with 3,000 maternal deaths recorded resulting from abortions.
• Approximately 60% of women in Kenya have sexual intercourse before the age of 18.

Pro-Life Walk In Eldoret

These current statistics prompt us to be part of the solution. Women in a crisis pregnancy experience a great deal of emotional stress, spiritual instability, financial worries, disruption of academic pursuits (including many dropping out of school) and stigmatization in society among many other negative effects. The Rift Valley region leads the nation with the highest number of abortions performed annually. Incidences of death or health complications after failed attempts at abortions have also increased. For instance, do you know that on record, 460,000 abortions are procured yearly in Kenya, with the Rift Valley leading with 38,687 incidences? And these are just the recorded cases, meaning there are much more abortions procured countrywide.

Pro-Life Walk

Speaking to a nurse in town recently, I was informed that some doctors collude with students who require abortions. The doctors administer drugs that they know will induce bleeding later, at which point the student comes back to the hospital bleeding to justify the need to carry out the abortion. It is increasingly common to find dead fetuses dumped by the river bank close to a hostel where many college-age students stay. We cannot help but wonder if, given the right counsel and support, these girls who consider their pregnancies as crises would opt to keep their babies and not abort.

God has enabled us to start the center- an answer to many prayers. New Beginnings Crisis Pregnancy Center; a ministry of our parent organization African Christian Outreach (A.C.O) We seek to offer biblical, holistic restoration to ladies who are or have gone through crisis pregnancies.

Our center offers services to ladies who are going through or have gone through a crisis pregnancy in the following ways:

Counseling: We have a team of trained staff and volunteers who offer Biblical based crisis counseling, post-abortion counseling, and general counseling.

Bible Studies: We use passages from the Bible and relevant study material to lead the ladies we work with back to Christ for their restoration. Recognizing that it is only Christ who can bring about true healing, hope and wholeness, this is a fundamental part of the process we walk ladies through.

Life Skills: These include crafts, basic tailoring, money management, basic cooking skills, health and nutrition and housekeeping. These skills are geared towards enabling the ladies to be adaptable, responsible and competent in tackling day-to-day obligations.

Preventive Programs: To be pro-active and not just react to the crisis, we offer abstinence programs, community outreach and advocacy for the sanctity of life.

 and classes on birth and parenting

Official Launch

The center also offers pregnancy tests, Ultrasounds, discipleship, birth and parenting classes, referrals to medical doctors, community awareness among many other services. We got an office space in Pioneer Estate (Eldoret Town) You can assist our cause by  praying for us, volunteering your services (we need different resource people including doctors, nurses, counselors, lawyers, mother, fathers, volunteers) Other needs are educative resources, office stationery, cash donations, furniture, baby clothes, cribs, toys and anything else you feel can assist our cause.

                                                                         




                                                                                             By Anne Katumbi Otieno 

To contact us if in need, for more information, or to share with us your insight:

Email:                                                 aco.newbeginnings@gmail.com

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram:   @NewBeginsCPC

Like our page on Facebook:                New Beginnings, Crisis Pregnancy Center

Website:                                             africanchristianoutreach.com/new-beginnings/

Call us:                                                             0780 733 288