948 Teenage Pregnancies Recorded in Chadiza

By Christopher Miti The Chadiza District health office has recorded 948 teenage pregnancies between January to July this year. This is slight drop from 976 cases that were recorded in the same period last year. Acting District Medical Officer MAYBIN SHAMBOKO said the figures represents girls aged between 10 and 19 years old that presented for the first time at antenatal clinics across the district. He was speaking during the Zingalume chiefdom engagement as part of the 2026 International Day of the girl child held under the theme: End Child Marriage and invest in girls rights. And Plan International Eastern Area Programme Manager Dr DENNIS LEMBANI said his organisation has taken the commemoration in chiefdoms so that traditional leaders and stakeholders can intervene on the high teenage pregnancies and early marriages. Meanwhile Chief ZINGALUME said his chiefdom by-laws have been harmonized with the Children’s Code Act. Acting Chadiza District Commissioner SIYABUYA LIBOMA said there is need to re-strategize and come up with practical steps that can help reduce the two vices.