TEENAGE PREGNANCY: LAGOS ADVISES PARENTS ON SEX EDUCATION.#PRESS RELEASE.

      As part of efforts to stem the increase in teenage pregnancy among female children between the ages of 13-19 years, Lagos State Government has advised parents to go the extra mile by educating their children on sex education, especially the female child, on risks of early pregnancy as it affects their ambition in life.

In commemoration of Day of the Africa Child, the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in collaboration with the Old Students Association of Epe Senior Girls High School, Epe, organised a seminar held at the school premises with the theme: “Teenage Pregnancy, Cultism and Child Rights”.

Speaking on teenage pregnancy, the Director, Office of the Public Defender, Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi noted that it has become worrisome that teenage pregnancy has become an increasing trend amongst teenagers, thereby making many girls drop out of school.

Adeyemi said the alarming increase in reported cases of student pregnancy has necessitated the partnership with the Old Students Association of the school to carry out a sensitisation campaign to educate the pupils on the challenges facing the girl child.

While explaining that one of the causes of teenage pregnancy is sexual activity at an early age, Adeyemi revealed that teenage pregnancy can also be attributed to lack of parental care, arguing that when a female child lacks parental guidance, she may fall victim of abuse outside her home.

She said, “In recent times, older men take advantage of girls when they are in critical condition; this is because they see us as weaker sex but we need to prove to them that we are strong. I want you to always have it at the back of your mind that you are not weak. Be bold and be focused”.

She hinted that some abort a pregnancy that sometimes goes wrong and leads to sudden death or complications with their reproductive organs or gets them infected with sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS or Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) complications.

Mrs. Adeyemi advised the pupils to concentrate more on their studies and say no to pre-marital sex, urging them to practice abstinence from sex or use the preventive method.