TEENAGE pregnancy continues to be a growing concern in Fiji, with family neglect identified as one of the major factors driving the issue.
Minister for Women and Children Sashi Kiran made the remark following revelations by Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa that 489 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the first six months of this year.
Ms Kiran said while the numbers have slightly decreased compared with previous years, the issue remains serious and requires a coordinated national effort.
“Teenage pregnancies have been an issue for a few years, and if you compare the numbers, they are slightly coming down,” Ms Kiran said.
“We have been working really hard with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to get children educated on sexual and reproductive health, and to ensure there’s a support system available.”
She said the ministry had been engaging with student associations to strengthen emotional and mental health support for young people, particularly following recent cases of teenage distress and suicide.
“We’re reaching out to student associations to provide emotional and mental health support, remove stigma, and make sexual reproductive health information and products more widely available.”
Ms Kiran stressed that teenage pregnancy is a “whole-of-society issue”, often rooted in lack of family support.
“What we’re dealing with now is the situation below the cliff, when the problem has become so big that we’re working on policy, budgets, and actual action at different levels.”
She said the newly-launched National Child Safeguarding Policy will also play a key role in addressing teenage pregnancy and child abuse.
“Awareness and education will hopefully make people come out and get the support they need.”
