By Restituto A. Cayubit
Palo, Leyte – Leyte has stepped up its campaign against teen pregnancies, the Provincial Population Office reported.
Melchora E. Cawile, acting provincial population officer, said her office has drafted plans and conducted regular symposiums and counseling sessions for teenagers to make them aware of the risks and complications of early pregnancy.
“We are advising the youth to avoid getting pregnant at early age and focus instead on their studies. We believe that a better future awaits them if they are educated,” Cawile said.
She said Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla requires the family planning officer and her staff to visit even hinterland barangays and to conduct regular symposiums in schools in remote areas.
Cawili said is in the hinterland areas where they found most of the teen pregnancies.
She said the campaign against teen pregnancies is a challenge since the teenagers who are getting pregnant are getting younger.
Last year her office found a 12-year-old girl who got pregnant.