Gulu City runs to end teenage pregnancy

By Charles Samuel Epiat

In the heart of Gulu City, the streets buzzed with anticipation as chief runner Brenda Kiconco, the secretary for female affairs at the National Youth Council  led the charge in a 5km menstrual run campaign.

This is a second edition of the campaign organized by Her Worth Foundation a Community Based Organization under the  theme - 'Ending teenage pregnancy'.

As the participants embarked on the spirited run, the chief runner spoke to Nile post and empathized the need to support young and vulnerable girls that are suffering due to the lack of knowledge on menstrual health, which is leading to 'unplanned' pregnancies.

"It is vital for the communities and the national at large to embrace the need to foster menstrual hygiene among young girls," Kiconco said.

"These are the mothers of our generation and so without them, the coming generation is at stake."

Monica Apiyo Prudence  the organizer of the run also the founder of Her-Worth Foundation based in Gulu said  there are many girls that have limited access to menstrual hygiene products.

"This run is mainly looking at mentorship to the rural girls that have no chance to information regarding menstrual hygiene. You find these girls use dirty clothes and pieces of mattresses to pad themselves. This is the main reason for the run."

During the run, 16 year old teenage mother has become a beneficiary  after her story caught  the attention of most of the runners and are now willing to take  her back to school.

They also collected shs220,000  for her school requirements.

The 16 year old said he is happy that she has acquired knowledge on how to observe a healthy menstrual cycle, and she also looks forward to sharing this new found knowledge with her peers especially about the negative effects of teenage pregnancy.

"This run has helped me to learn how to be self aware. My mother is stressing to get money for my school fees but I am ready to share my experience with other teenagers to avoid teenage pregnancy."

Amidst the cheers and applause from onlookers, Betty Aol Ocan, the Woman MP of Gulu City's  presence underscored the importance of policy, representation, and community engagement in creating a safe and supportive environment for young girls to thrive.

She contributed shs1 million to Her Worth foundation to facilitate it's activities.

As the run came to an end, the message reverberated through the streets of Gulu City - ending teenage pregnancy starts with education, empowerment, and collective action.

The 5km run was not just a physical journey but a symbolic step towards a future where every young girl can embrace her menstrual health with confidence and dignity, free from the shadows of stigma and misinformation.

In Gulu City, a new chapter has begun, written with the ink of unity, awareness, and unwavering determination.

The rhythmic sound of feet hitting the pavement mirrored the collective heartbeat of a city determined to break barriers and foster change with regard to menstrual hygiene and an end to teenage pregnancy.

It is important to note that the onslaught of the COVID19 heightened the cases of teenage pregnancies in Acholi sub region with one in every five households sheltering a teen below 18 years of age that either has a child or is pregnant.