KOT reacts to ‘no contraceptives for teens’ stance
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha says she will not allow contraceptives to be used by underage girls in Kenya, and Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) have had a lot to say about it.
A number of Kenyans have voiced their concerns, saying the move will lead to an increase in the number of teenage pregnancies and HIV infections among the youth.
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A Twitter user cheekily asked the CS to be prepared to reduce the price of pampers if she decided to deny contraceptives to the youth.
In a recent interview with Nation.Africa on the sidelines of the African Union Summit 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the CS stressed that her faith teaches abstinence and she, thus, believes that young people should instead be taught to abstain from sex.
“We have to teach our adolescents to abstain, I believe that with a firm Christian foundation, they will learn to abstain,” she explained.
The CS stressed that the youths are not allowed to have sex before marriage because it goes against the Holy book.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) executive director Winnie Byanyima, on a recent trip to Kenya encouraged teenagers to access contraceptives.
She highlighted that inequalities and injustices in our societies are driving up the HIV/Aids pandemic and making specific groups of people such as young women and adolescent girls highly vulnerable to HIV infection.
“ Two out of three people living with HIV are women while in 2021, there were still 1.5 million new HIV infections around the world and 650,000 HIV/Aids-related death.”
“I will not give contraceptives to teens having sex, let them abstain,” CS Nakhumicha says https://t.co/W3sXVEznoq
— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) February 19, 2023
It is the duty of Parents, Elders & Teachers to teach children what is right & wrong. Children can’t be told to do a wrong thing but take precautions.. That is Wrong.
— Dormohamed Mohamed (@DormohamedM) February 19, 2023
“ I am mama kanisa’, we have to teach our adolescents to abstain, I believe that with a firm christian foundation they will learn to abstain ,” the CS who is a devoted Catholic said. It's only Christians are the ones who are engaged in this business the minister claims 🤣🤣
— BinAbdille (@BinAbdille1) February 19, 2023
Do not do it suddenly as you know that the habits of having sex is common to the teens and some are addicted therefore try some ways in which youths will adapt to abstainence such as through educating them about effects of this contraceptives and meet your obligation completely.
— kijana mwerevu (@kastar_romanes) February 19, 2023
This is the right move. Supporting teenage sex by offering contraceptives is not the right move. Educate them on abstinence and making the right choices. Remember, we are the parents and we dictate what goes. Let us stop rewarding bad behavior.
— Mwenyeji 🇰🇪 (@mwenyeji3) February 19, 2023
🤪 knee jerk reaction, with or without contraception, they will carry on. The difference will be of without, as you so advocate, will be felt very soon after starting with STD's and teenage pregnancies will follow. And who will look bad??
— Alexander Sarikas (@AlexanderSarik4) February 19, 2023