Over 6000 teenage pregnancies registered in Zombo district in 17 months.

Zombo district has registered a total of 6000 cases of teenage pregnancies within a period of 17 months.

Statistics from the district probation officer, Collins Pireri indicate that the cases were recorded between January 2020 and May 2021.

Pireri disclosed that the victims include girls between 14 and 17 years, who are both learners and those that have dropped out of school.

According to the statistics, 4,090 cases were registered between January and December 2020 while 1,800 cases were registered between January and May 2021.

Pireri has blamed the figures on lack of parental care and guidance to young girls, poverty, negligence by parents as well as the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) lockdown.

James Oruna Oyullu, the LCV chairperson Zombo says that the figures are alarming, a matter he notes requires urgent intervention from stakeholders to prevent it.

He added that the district together with partners has also embarked on community sensitization on how to protect young girls, sexual education as well as arresting the perpetrators.

Brenda Aromorach, a women’s rights activist and field officer at Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) Gulu has urged for the need for child protection.