Countering Teenage Pregnancy in Isiolo: Youths and Adolescents Empowered Through Sexual Reproductive Health Education
Adolescents and young people in Isiolo’s Burat Ward are being engaged in a community-driven campaign aimed at reducing rising cases of teenage and adolescent pregnancies, a program tat is being spearheaded by Merti Integrated Program and Mercy Corps.
The initiative, which is being spearheaded through partnership with the Ministry of Health in collaboration integrates reproductive health education with social and sporting activities at the village level.
Fatuma Ismail, one of the organizers, explained that sports have proven particularly effective in reaching young people. Football tournaments attract large crowds of youths, especially boys, who are equally vulnerable to risky behaviors.
These events give health workers an opportunity to interact with the youth, provide guidance and counseling, and, where necessary, refer them to health facilities.
According to Fransisca Akope, a sexual reproductive health educator from the Ministry of Health, teenage pregnancy has been on the rise in Isiolo, which is among the leading counties, with the national prevalence rate standing at 17 percent.
She noted that pregnancies among girls between the ages of ten and fourteen have also increased, making it necessary to create new ways of reaching out to younger adolescents.
Akope added that, through partnerships with Mercy Corps and MID-P, the ministry has been able to train healthcare providers on how to target vulnerable youths through reproductive sexual health education.
The training also addresses other issues that affect young people, including drug abuse, insecurity, and nutrition, ensuring that participants gain a broader range of life skills.
Community Health Promoter (CHP) Jannet Cherono from Leparua location said the program is already transforming lives. She noted that young people are being equipped with knowledge in nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, and financial literacy.
Many have also formed Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), allowing them to save and access credit for income-generating activities. This, she said, has significantly reduced their involvement in livestock theft, which was once common in the area.
Some participants have even started small kitchen gardens, improving food security and creating a sustainable source of income.
Cherono emphasized that the combination of education, sports, and economic empowerment is giving Isiolo’s youth new opportunities and helping them make healthier choices.
Siraj Yusuf, a youth from Burat, described the program as an eye-opener for many young people. Beyond the sporting events, he said, participants have gained vital knowledge on reproductive health education.
According to him, many youths have also shed the stigma that was once associated with topics such as sex, family planning, early marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM), and HIV and AIDS.
Young people are now more willing to seek help openly from health officials when necessary and also share the information with peers during community activities.
Husein Jirmo from MID-P highlighted that the program also includes a peace-building component, recognizing that communities in Burat Ward face insecurity challenges linked to livestock theft and inter-communal clashes.
He explained that an assessment is being conducted to ensure youths engaged in the program can also be empowered economically, through partnerships with the county government in areas such as livestock marketing and farming ventures.
The initiative’s holistic approach—linking reproductive health education with sports, peace-building, and economic empowerment—is equipping Isiolo’s youth with the skills and opportunities to make healthier choices and contribute to a safer, more secure future.
