MONZE DISTRICT, SOUTHERN PROVINCE: As part of ongoing initiatives to support Government efforts aimed at reducing the high rate of adolescent pregnancy in Zambia, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is implementing a three-year Gender, Adolescent Pregnancy and Social Norms (GAPS) Programme (2022-2024), funded by the Government of Sweden. The overall goal of the programme is to reduce adolescent pregnancies by 5% in the Eastern and Southern Provinces, by addressing gender inequality and negative social and cultural norms.

During a recent visit of the Swedish Ambassador to Zambia H.E Mr. Johan Hallenborg and UNFPA Representative Mr. Seth Broekman in Monze District, the Monze District Commissioner Mr. Mwanza Malambo acknowledged the ongoing partnerships and support from the Government of Sweden and UNFPA at District level, towards addressing key health and development needs of young people, particularly around adolescent pregnancy. Mr. Malambo was alive to the fact that the needs of young people were many and that the District Administration is looking forward to sustaining this partnership to ensure young people can fulfill their potential.

“We welcome this ongoing partnership with Government in realizing the full potential of our young people, and in particular adolescent girls in Monze District and Southern Province at large,” he said.

And Swedish Ambassador to Zambia H.E Mr. Johan Hallenborg acknowledged the significant impact of the programme towards helping vulnerable adolescent girls to lead empowered and healthy lives, with access to information and services required to prevent adolescent pregnancy.

“The challenge of improving the health of young people cannot only be solved by procuring equipment and commodities in health facilities. It requires multi-sectoral approaches at all levels. This is why the Government of Sweden is happy to work with UNFPA and the Government at Provincial and District levels to help transform negative social and cultural norms that lead to adolescent pregnancy”- said Mr. Hallenborg.

Mr Hallenborg also emphasized the key role that traditional leaders play in achieving norm change.

UNFPA Representative Mr. Seth Broekman also reaffirmed the UN Agency’s commitment towards ensuring every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

“UNFPA is mandated by Member States to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Adolescent pregnancy touches on all these 3 aspects of our work. Adolescent pregnancy exposes girls to significant health risks including risk for maternal death and morbidities, and lost opportunities for achieving her full potential. As such, UNFPA and the Government of Sweden is pleased to support the Government of Zambia’s efforts to reduce the high adolescent pregnancy rate in Zambia, and particularly in Southern Province where current data reflects that 43% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 have begun childbearing”, said Mr. Broekman.

The delegation also participated in community dialogues with traditional leaders, parents and adolescents on how to reduce teenage pregnancies at community level.

Speaking during a dialogue with traditional leaders, Senior Headman, Ngambela Kizito of Ufwenuka Chiefdom in Monze appreciated ongoing initiatives of the Programme to engage traditional leaders in disseminating age appropriate sexual and reproductive health information to adolescent girls and boys.

“As traditional leaders, we are happy to support the transformation of those harmful cultural practices that affect the health of young people, including by changing key messages delivered through ceremonies such as Nkolola and Gobelo, and ensure they are replaced with progressive messages that can safeguard the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents”, said Senior Headman Ngambela Kizito.

Through the GAPS programme, over 36,926 adolescents have so far graduated from 3-month mentorship programmes aimed at building life-skills and empowering adolescents to prevent adolescent pregnancy. The programme has also reached more than 21,716 community members to address negative social and cultural norms that influence adolescent pregnancy in the district.