Child pregnancy on the rise in Anuradhapura

By Dayaratne Embogama

Colombo, Sept. 30 (Daily Mirror) - Pregnancy of underage girls and the rate of child mothers have been increasing in alarming proportions in the Anuradhapura area, creating a serious social issue, much to the anxiety of the authorities.

Inspector of Police S. Shyamali of Anuradhapura Police told the meeting of Anuradhapura District Children and Women Development Committee that the pregnancy among underage girls had increased this year when compared to the previous years.

The committee met on Sunday under the chairmanship of Additional District Secretary Shamila Wickremarachchi at the District Secretariat auditorium to take up the issue affecting children and women and to consider the proposals to resolve them.

The Addl. District Secretary pointed out that the teachers still used social media networks and the internet for school academic activities, and that it resulted in children falling prey to this danger.

She stressed the need to provide adequate facilities, including more schools for the education of children with special needs. She pointed out to work out a crash programme as set out in the circular instructions.

Deputy Director of Education Hemantha Chandrasekara pointed out that the use of WhatsApp should be used only for educational activities of the Advanced Level students. He said the primary grade children would be addicted to the mobile phone if allowed to use it.

Paediatrician Dr. P.Ratnamali said the nutrition of children under five years of age was minimal and that a child welfare programme funded by the UNICEF would be implemented soon in the Anuradhapura District.

District Children’s Rights Promotion Officer Indu Amarasinghe and several senior officials were present at the occasion.