Child pregnancy on the rise in Anuradhapura

Officials highlight misuse of social media and internet for school activities, exposing children to risks 

By Dayaratne Embogama   

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.