By Watera and Mmeeme Leticia Luwenze,
KAMPALA:
The Archbishop of Uganda, His Grace Dr Steven Kaziimba Mugalu has said that schools are not well equipped to take care of the health challenges that learners with pregnancy cases may experience in the first three months at school.
The Archbishop made remarks on Wednesday at Maria Flo hotel in Masaka.
He was responding to public backfires against comments by the Mukono Anglican Diocese James Ssebaggala after he directed all Anglican church founded schools in his district to block all pregnant and breastfeeding learners from schools contrary to government directives that allowed learner impregnated during the lockdown to be admitted to schools.
In response, Kaziimba said many schools may not manage to take care of these learners since they do not have the capacity like health facilities to take care of them.
“The schools are not equipped to take care of health challenges that may emerge in the first three months of the pregnancy and yet we have this commitment to reduce maternal mortality. There are girls who were in boarding schools and are struggling to decide whether they will manage the boarding school environment in their condition,”Kaziimba said
He, however was quick to say that they (the church) will follow government orders on pregnant learners expressing a need for government to sit down with all parties including teachers, parents, and religious leaders to see how these children may be helped.
He urges that a systematic plan be put in place and orders revised on how they will not mix with those that are not carrying babies.
Kaziimba says the religious leaders have organized visits that will help them provide Physio support to those who gave birth and those who are still pregnant.
“The Inter Religious Council is going to strengthen chaplaincy ministries in their schools as part of a prevention strategy,” he added.
