Kapenguria: Stakeholders in West Pokot County have intensified their efforts to tackle the significant challenges of teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence (GBV), and rising HIV infections among adolescents and young people. They have warned that inaction could severely impact the future of the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, the stakeholders, which include representatives from the county government, national government, health workers, probation officers, Community Health Promoters (CHPs), Huduma Centre officials, and young people, convened at Mtelo Hall in Kapenguria. The purpose of this community dialogue was to discuss prevalent challenges affecting adolescents and formulate strategies to protect them from health and social risks.
The initiative is part of a larger effort targeting counties with high incidences of these issues. West Pokot, along with Samburu, Homa Bay, and Uasin Gishu, has been identified for these community dialogues due to its high teenage pregnancy rates. Claire Parklea, the County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation, noted that West Pokot was selected because teenage pregnancies account for 36% of all pregnancies in the county, second only to Samburu.
Parklea highlighted that factors such as poverty, lack of education, and insufficient access to sexual and reproductive health information contribute significantly to teenage pregnancies. She emphasized the importance of keeping girls in school as a measure to reduce their vulnerability to early pregnancies.
Furthermore, Parklea called on adults to play a more active role in guiding adolescents, cautioning that the silence of the older generation could endanger the future. She encouraged young attendees to share the knowledge they gained and act as community ambassadors.
In a bid to improve health services for young people, the county government is enhancing healthcare access. A clinic has been established near a soon-to-open university, staffed with a clinical officer, nurse, and public health officer, and stocked with medicines. Additionally, the Keringet Health Centre has been upgraded to Level Three to further enhance healthcare access.
Nelly Achokor, the County AIDS and STI Coordinator, revealed that adolescents and young people account for about 22% of new HIV infections in West Pokot, compared to 41% nationally. She credited the reduction in HIV prevalence to interventions by both the national and county governments and other partners, with the current prevalence at 0.54%.
Achokor urged the continuation of government-supported programs targeting young people, emphasizing the need for further engagement to help adolescents understand the risks associated with their choices. She also raised concerns about GBV survivors delaying medical attention, which hampers timely interventions for HIV prevention and unwanted pregnancies.
County Director for Gender Emmanuel Oigo pointed out challenges related to GBV, including female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriages, and teenage pregnancies. Despite a decline in FGM prevalence, West Pokot remains a hotspot county. Oigo stressed the need for programs addressing different forms of violence, noting the increasing social dynamics brought by industrial developments in the county.
Dr. Samson Ndege from Moi University, involved in the HIV program through AMPATH, highlighted cultural practices that expose girls and women to GBV and early marriages, stressing the need for empowerment programs.
The dialogue is part of an initiative led by First Lady Rachel Ruto through the Office of the First Ladies of Africa under the Voice of Children project, aiming to engage adolescents in mitigating these issues. Achokor praised the First Lady’s support and called for sustained collaboration among governments, communities, and development partners to address the triple threat.
The stakeholders emphasized the importance of a multi-sectoral approach involving families, schools, government departments, health workers, and young people to address these challenges effectively.
