In response to the alarming statistics revealing that one in four pregnant women in Gulu are teenagers, Gulu City Council Speaker Alima Joyce Renee has taken up the challenge of combating this troubling trend.
Speaking as the chief guest at the Anyira Teenage Rescue Foundation’s Teenagers Conference, she shared her personal experience of giving birth while still a student in Senior One.
“Teenagers, you can still achieve your dreams,” Joyce Alima urged, emphasizing the importance of refocusing on education and personal growth.
“If your friends are encouraging you to disregard your parents’ advice, especially on issues like returning home early, distance yourself from them,” she added. Her own son, now studying water engineering at university, served as an example of the potential for success despite early challenges.
Joyce Alima was joined by her close friend Ayee Cindy, who also became a mother at 17. Cindy, now the female youth councillor for Gulu City, shared her experiences with the over 100 teenagers at the conference.
She urged them to avoid the notion of "tasting life" at a young age, warning against unprepared pregnancies and early marriages.
“You should not have children when you're not ready, and don't enter marriage without resources,” Cindy advised, stressing the importance of financial stability.
Dr. Baifa Arwinyo, the local maternity and newborn systems coordinator for Acholi Sub-region, expressed her commitment to improving adolescent-friendly services in health centers.
She noted that many young people are unaware of these services, contributing to the region’s high rates of maternal death among teenagers, with 6.5% of maternal deaths attributed to complications from abortion.
Anna Lawino, the director of programs at TASO Gulu, highlighted the importance of consent and respect in relationships.
“A ‘no’ means a ‘no,’” she stressed, adding that teenagers must learn to reflect on their actions, seek feedback from others, and develop self-awareness to make better decisions.
The conference, themed “A Self-Aware Teenager for Healthy Life Choices,” also saw the director of Anyira Teenage Rescue Foundation, Ronald Okello, call for increased support for community-based organizations that promote sexual and reproductive health rights.
He urged the government and stakeholders to fund these initiatives to reach more teenagers, particularly during school holidays when peer pressure is at its peak.
“Leaving teenagers unattended during long holidays has serious consequences,” he warned.
Through collective efforts, the speakers at the conference are working to reduce the teen pregnancy burden in Acholi, empowering young people to make informed choices about their futures.
