Over 32,000 teenage pregnancies have been recorded in Eastern Province from last year to the first quarter of 2024.

Provincial health director Mathews Ng’ambi said despite concerted efforts by the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, the province continues to grapple with alarmingly high numbers of teenage pregnancies.

Dr Ng’ambi said the number of teen pregnancies is higher than those being recorded in other provinces.

“The number stands quite high among all the provinces of Zambia and it worries me,” he said.

Additionally, in the 2023 data, the province recorded 93,000 new HIV infections, with 610 of these cases affecting adolescents directly.

Dr Ng’ambi emphasised that the Ministry of Health is actively collaborating with various ministries and local chiefs to ensure that all pregnant teenagers receive essential services to address their needs.

“For us as a sector, we value the good health of adolescents as they are the future of our country,” he said.

He further stated that as a ministry, there are many programmes in place to cater for adolescents in districts.

He said data-driven insights provide a critical foundation for informed decision-making and resource allocation to effectively address these intertwined health issues.

Zambia Daily Mail