Increasing abortions and some sexually Transmitted Infections worry Kaputa officials

The Kaputa District Medical Office has expressed worry at the increasing numbers of abortions and some sexually Transmitted Infections in the district.

Giving a presentation to pupils at Kaputa Secondary school yesterday, Kaputa District Information Officer, Daniel Sikazwe said the district has from 2011 been recording an upward trend in abortions and STIs cases.

He explained that although there was improvement in the cases of syphilis recorded last year there are a lot of cases of genital ulcers, and others which are entry point of HIV.

Mr. Sikazwe said many of these cases are from adolescents and are an indication that youths are highly involved in illicit sexual activities.

He appealed to young people to refrain from sexual activities to avoid such cases by concentrating on school work.

Meanwhile Kaputa District Aids Coordination Advisor, Charity Mulubwa who also gave a presentation advised the youths to protect themselves from STIs.

Ms. Mulubwa said the district did not need to record new cases of HIV because of its focus to meet the target of zero new infections.

She warned the youths that engaging in early sexual activities led to serious complication like abortions, and infertility in cases of STIs.

Meanwhile, Father Derrick Mwamba a Priest at Kaputa Catholic Church advised the youths to seek God as a way to prevent themselves from engaging in such illicit activities.

Fr. Mwamba revealed that 90 percent of complications in the world are as a result of people including youths abusing their sexuality.

He said it is incumbent for young people to seek God’s guidance through prayer and other youth tailored programmes offered by the Church.

The three speakers were part of the group that has been formed in Kaputa to tackle adolescent reproductive health.