GARISSA, Kenya, Jul, 12 – There is a need to strengthen the county committees involved in combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), HIV infection rate, and early marriages among teenagers if the war against the triple threats is to be won in the country.
Speaking during the world population day celebration at the Garissa University, Northeastern NCPD coordinator Moses Ouma said the threats are real and need to be tackled head-on, failure of which the future of the current generation could be destroyed.
He said the committee needs to come out and incorporate other key players in expanding on the triple threats.
He said in Garissa 10 per cent of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 are either pregnant or have already gotten their first child, this he said has been attributed to cultural practices and illiteracy.
“Coming up with these communities is one thing but making sure they are active is another thing altogether. These triple threats are real and the earlier we confront them the better. each on of us has a role to place,” said Ouma.
Ouma said that population was a cross cutting issue that directly related to development.
He said that the fact that population was increasing rapidly compared to declining resources noting that there was a need to increase awareness in the community.
On his part deputy county commissioner, Solomon Chesut said that there was a need to educate members of the public, especially the rural folks on the triple threats.
He said that chiefs, village elders and the nyumba kumi have a big role to play in not only ending the vices but also disseminating the right information to the public.
“We are law enforcement officers and the law is very clear when it comes to practicing some of these harmful cultural practices that have been prohibited under our laws,” Chesut said.
“Any administration officer found abetting them will only have him or herself to blame since serious administration measures will be taken against them,” he added.
On his part, Abdinoor Hussein, the county director for special programmes said it is important that all stakeholders put their heads together and confront the issues head-on.
He gave the example of the Northeastern region where issues of population control should be overemphasized noting that the resources available were not marching the population something he said had led to many conflicts that have at times turned bloody.
He said the national and county government together with the relevant players must come together to provide opportunities for the youth through proper planning and prioritizing programmes that will empower the youth.
He said that the challenges vary from one county to another noting that teenage pregnancy and FGM are rampant in North Eastern region and that the numbers were worrying hence the need for the stakeholders to make the right response to arrest the situation.
“There is no single person who is placed to end these harmful practices, it is a collective responsibility that involves the sheikhs, elders, the civil society, the youth, and our mothers. Everybody should be involved,” he said.
According to statistics, FGM in North Eastern stands at over 98 percent amid efforts by the government to end the menace.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
