GENDER IN TANZANIA

BELOW ARE THE WAYS THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE EARLY PREGNANCY IN TANZANIA

WHAT THE PARLIAMENT DO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE EARLY PREGNANCY

1.     Advocate for youth friendly health services and support the introduction of life-skills education for girls and boys both in and out of school.

2.     Ensure girls have the opportunity and are actively encouraged to continue their education if they become pregnant while still at school. Support implementation of the government guidelines on re-entry to school and provision of training opportunities. Be aware that while schoolgirl pregnancy gets the headlines, in fact girls who are not in school are much more likely to get pregnant early.

3.     Support the National Adolescent Reproductive Health Strategy (2010-2015), which aims to strengthen the policy, legal and community environment for sexual and reproductive health information, services and life skills. It seeks to improve health system responses to adolescent health needs and to provide a platform for linkages with other sectors dealing with adolescents and young people.

4.     Back the National Life Skills Education Framework, which aims to improve knowledge, and promote attitudes and skills, that will facilitate adolescent decision-making on sexual issues.

5.     Ensure these strategies have adequate resources, trained teachers and a supportive environment that is responsive to the needs of adolescents.

WHAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO END EALY PREGNANCY

1.     Support increased availability of youth-friendly health services throughout the district. These facilities should be non-judgmental, supportive environment
where young people feel comfortable and con dent about expressing their concerns and are able to receive guidance in language that is their experience and stage of development.

2.     Ensure girls throughout the district have the right and opportunity to continue their education if they become pregnant while still at school

3.     Ensure all schools are providing life-skills education and work with CSOs to provide life-skills education to children who are out of school.

4.     d. Monitor school attendance and drop out. Encourage all schools to be pro-active e. Encourage development of early childhood centers that can help provide care for children of young mothers while they continue their education.

WHAT THE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATION CAN DO TO END EARLY PREGNANCY
a. Support community-based programs that empower adolescent girls to protect themselves and enable them to continue their education if they become pregnant while still at school.
b. Advocate for national and local government investment in life skills and youth-friendly health services.
c. Support the development of community-based early childhood development centers that can provide care to children of young mothers while they continue their education.

WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTORS CAN DO TO END EARLY PREGNANCY
A. Support the development of youth friendly health services in local communities.
B. Provide assistance to early childhood development centers in local communities.
C. Support the development of vocational training opportunities for young people.
THE MEDIA
a. Produce features and editorials on the importance of ensuring all young Tanzanians have access to advice on reproductive health and the means to prevent unwanted pregnancy – through life skills education and youth friendly health services. Report on districts making good progress and those making little progress.
b. Use the appeal of popular youth programs on radio, including local radio, to help young people learn about preventing unwanted pregnancy. Draw attention to youth-friendly health services where these exist and campaign for more to be established.
c. Advocate for all schools to follow government guidelines and re-admit girls who have become mothers. Write realistic features about the struggles of child mothers to get educated.
CHILDREN
a. Whether you are a boy or a girl, be aware of the consequences of unwanted pregnancy. Learn about how to prevent unwanted pregnancy and share this information with your friends.
b. Be understanding of girls who become pregnant and encourage them to continue with their studies
REFERENCE

The report on women and children agenda UNICEF – 2010

SIRIKWA YASINTA THADEY
BAPRM 42673