40,000 underage pregnancies annually
December 14, 2010 09:51 am
It has been revealed through a survey conducted by the
Ministry of Health that around 40,000 underage girls in the country get
pregnant every year, the National Child Protection Authority states.
“We are taking necessary steps to educate parents regarding the issue”, NCPA
Chairman Anoma Dissanayake said.
In a meeting with the ministry of Health and Nutrition, it is revealed around 35000-40 000 underage girls in the country geting sexually activated and pregnant every year. The lack of knowledge of adults and parents is one reason for this. National Child Protection Authority states.
Children are not found guilty as they are victims. But the adults could be charged for aiding and abetting.”
She said that she has also been informed that many underaged children in the country are having sexually active lives, and also they obtain services from family health workers under the Ministry of Health and Nutrition. "We already have taken action to inform the ministry of Health and Nutrition to give us the information about such children through 1929 Child Line Sri lanka, the 24 hour toll free telephone line of NCPA." she said.
