High cases of teenage pregnancy among girls aged between 13 and 19 years old in Kamanjab, Kunene Region, remain a burning social issue that needs concerted efforts to address.

These are the views of Deputy Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Bernadette Jagger, when she addressed the Women and Girls Conference on Teenage Pregnancy held yesterday.

She highlighted that the escalation of such social issues is driven by poverty, peer pressure, sexual abuse, a lack of parental involvement, and harmful cultural beliefs.

Jagger called on the Constituency Child Care and Protection Forum members to raise awareness about teenage pregnancy in schools and gender-based violence.

“Teenage pregnancy is one of the most common problems that is growing worldwide, and Kamanjab is not exempt. Teenage pregnancy is a social issue that affects not only a teenage mother but even the whole of society. It leads to a high poverty rate and increases health care costs to care for the teenage mother and the mother."

Jagger also voiced concern about the misuse of social grants in the area. She reiterated that the ministry provides different services that include child care and protection, gender mainstreaming, the administration of social grants, and funeral benefits.

“The staff members for the ministry are responsible for providing psychosocial support to children under the age of 18, raising awareness in the community about gender and social issues, and registering the vulnerable population on social grants.