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MWANGI: Teens and condoms: Leaders should keep faith out of public health policy

It's 2023! No amount of prayers will keep adolescents and teenagers' hormonal chaos in check.

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by Josephine Mayuya

Opinion22 February 2023 - 01:00
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In Summary


  • Pregnant adolescents and teenagers will continue to overwhelm our health system.
  • Give them information and services, including contraceptives for the ones that need them.
A procession to sensitize members of the public on the importance of using condoms on World Condom Day in Thika on February 13, 2023.

Praying for adolescents is not a public policy solution that will work. Separating beliefs from ministerial dockets is vital to ensure we stay true to no discrimination and remembering we have no state religion.

According to the National Syndemic Disease Control Council, as of 2021, Kenya had 1,435,271 people living with HIV with 32,027 new infections at that time.

Adolescent and teenage pregnancies and HIV infections continue to rise every month and comprehensive, holistic solutions, including resources, are not being widely accessed by the community stemming from a number of issues.

Recently Health CS Susan Nakhumicha said with a good Christian foundation, adolescents can be able to abstain from sexual activities while condoms remain present.

Adolescents and young people remain at the receiving end of these issues most of the time, as they face stigma, drop out of school among other effects.

The major drivers of HIV infections and pregnancies include sexual violence and lack of inadequate information and services on reproductive health.

Pregnant adolescents and teenagers will continue to overwhelm our health system. Give them information and services, including contraceptives for the ones that need them.

In most parts of the country, girls will sleep with boda boda operators or truck drivers for pads, among other issues. They get infected with HIV and some end up pregnant. This calls for urgent interventions. How are you planning to curb adolescent and teenage pregnancies?

It's 2023! No amount of prayers will keep adolescents and teenagers' hormonal chaos in check. Basing any form of public policy on religion is a recipe for disaster. Leave religion out of policy matters.

The Ministry of Health is not a church, but a public health institution that should legislate accordingly and for all. Public officials should be barred from imposing their faith and beliefs when expending their duties.

Praying for adolescents is not a public policy solution that will work. Separating beliefs from ministerial dockets is vital to ensure we stay true to no discrimination and remember we have no state religion.


Adolescents and teenagers are engaging in sex. Mostly it's unprotected. Let us stop burying our heads in the sand and start taking action. Information and services, including contraceptives, will help mitigate adolescent and teenage pregnancies.

This is a public health issue that needs public policy directions not influenced by any religion.

You cannot force adolescents and teenagers to abstain when in the first place we are not ready to talk about sex. Policies are made out of realities, experiences, evidence, science, facts and research, and not personal ethos. Comprehensive Sexuality Education should be mandatory for all adolescents and teenagers.

Religious beliefs should not bar access, provision and uptake of contraceptives. HIV infections and adolescent and teenage pregnancies are increasing; can we try another solution? Can we give information, services and contraceptives?

We are doomed if we do not invest in information, services and contraceptives. Otherwise, the ministry should be ready to put money into any soon-to-happen outbreak of adolescent/teenage pregnancies.

Since even CSE is not provided, how do we have holistic solutions that work for all aside from praying?

What do personal beliefs have to do with a social, health and public policy issue? The age of sexual debut is dropping and dropping fast. Nowadays, children as young as 10 years engage in sexual activities. Part of our national values should be guarding adolescents, teenagers, young people and youth with condoms and services, including contraceptives. 

What is immoral about contraceptives, sex education and reproductive health services for adolescents and teens? Educate and protect all, the public should not be suffocated with teachings from anyone’s religion.

The cost of living remains high and these social and health issues remain a class issue since the rich will afford the services and the poor won't.

Ending social and health issues that affect adolescents and young people in all our diversity is key to ensuring a productive economy; they are able to stay in school, work and grow the economy.

The health system remains stretched and unable to provide quality services to the population.

Amongst other solutions to solve the social and health problem that is adolescent and teenage pregnancy is access to information on reproductive health, including the law, having sexuality education discussions and providing services, including contraceptives.

Sexual reproductive health youth specialist @alvinmwangi254 

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