The Sunday News
Pastor Kilton Moyo
Last week I read a small article in one of the local daily newspapers where Ministry of Health expressed concern over the increase in the mortality rate largely by adolescent mothers who contribute about 120 deaths in every 1 000.
A research is being done to find out ways of curbing this unfortunate scenario. I think this piece of statistics and information is disturbing to normal citizens of this country. I have in the past written in this column arguing that we have a sexuality crisis in this nation and Africa in particular. My observation still stands based on the facts that adolescent pregnancies are increasing, school drop outs due to pregnancy are increasing and this might increase new infections and STIs. I visited a big rural hospital two weeks ago in Matabeleland South and my heart was disturbed by the number of pregnant adolescent girls staying in the waiting shelters to deliver their babies.
I remember talking briefly to a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old who are there waiting for delivery. My intention was to ask a few questions but I failed to because of my own emotions at that sight and the desperation in those little girls faces. I needed to sort myself out first but then I never got the chance to talk to them again.
It is a fact that as Africa we are struggling with the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the world and the highest abortion rate too. This alone is a huge knock on our developmental aspirations as a people. How do we develop when we work against ourselves in this manner? We are already destroying our future. These girls will be sidelined in all developmental programmes. They have lost an opportunity for a decent education and life. They will have to struggle throughout their lives raising children who in most cases have no known fathers. Already they are married to poverty and a life of struggle. I commend the Ministry of health for trying to find a solution to this. I would however, want to take you all back to my contributions last year through this column.
I believe sincerely in my heart that we must introduce or re-introduce Sex Education in our schools and college curriculum.
There is need to be deliberate in teaching and grooming on Sexual Health if we are to enjoy success against this. We must all agree that we are dealing with an inner-personal issue here. May I state it as it is. Adolescent pregnancies and all it stands for is not a political, economic, poverty or cultural crisis. NO. It is a moral issue. I believe we need to deal with it from that point of view. We have a tendency as a people to run away from the truth and begin to handle all our afflictions from an economical issue and blame poverty and all that and miss the mark. We need to come to a point where we can sober up and ask ourselves this one Zillion dollar question. “What does the WORD of GOD say about these issues? Beloved, when we get to this level of self-introspection as a people, we will get the answer and save our children.
Let us have a national policy in considering sex education and do it from a BIBLE point of view. There is only one thing that can adequately address sin nature and that is the Word of God. Once a week lessons in all secondary schools, high schools, colleges and universities might help us. I believe that Grade Six and Seven should also be exposed. The whole emphasis should be on promoting Abstinence and Faithfulness. I believe we just have to be responsible as people and as leaders and come up with solutions that save our children. I know fully well that many players in this field want to have us believe that it is impossible to abstain from sexual intercourse. This is a lie straight from Satan himself. Human beings can abstain. It is all about the information given and individual choices. May our systems give these children enough of Godly information and let them choose.
We can all of us, Government, Church, Families, Schools, Colleges, and NGOs ( those who are normal) get ourselves into a national campaign and teaching on the benefits of Abstinence and Faithfulness and I am convinced in my heart we will reap great results. It is not a one-day event. It is a process that requires commitment and all of us have a duty to educate our children and protect them even from themselves and the foolishness of youth. Youth is an innocent human development stage, however, full of lust.
Well, you might be thinking I am just suggesting things without doing anything. Our foundation, Citizen Africa, under our Healthy Sexuality pillar, has developed 2 great modules to help youths or schools with this. These are engagement modules which help youths in small groups to engage and talk. We have also developed a small write-up on 9 benefits of abstinence and have these also in DVD form.
Not to mention that we have the most relevant book to the current crisis called The Sex Trap which promotes abstinence and faithfulness and explains sex the way of God without condemning anyone. We also have set up a small program called No More Victim for teenage girls who find themselves pregnant and wanting to either abort or dump their children.
We intend helping them through until the child is two years old. We will be offering counselling and grooming and reconciliation and others. All these tools are available to schools, colleges, universities, families and all users and dreamers like us.
Otherwise let us educate our children. Give them information on abstinence, faithfulness, dangers of homosexuality, prostitution, fornication, adultery and all those other sexual perversions. The Bible is rich with this. Africa shall be saved beloved.
Kilton Moyo is creator of Fruitful Marriages, a renewal and enrichment program and is pastor, counsellor and author of The Sex Trap. Call or WhatsApp +263775337207, +263772610103. mailto:[email protected]
