Teen Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy is an issue that I think is taken too lightly that can no longer be ignored. Teen pregnancy is not just a social issue like it once was. It is also a hinderance to development and threat to global health. It is sad that 11% of all births worldwide are attributed to teens. Most of these births occur in developing and middle income countries. These are the countries that find teen pregnanices socially acceptable because of traditional and religious beliefs. Development in these countries is greatly affected. This is due to the reduced productivity in that teen. In the case that the teen went on to attain advanced skills and work the teen would be helping the country develop. However when a teen becomes a mother, she simultaneously becomes a burden on society as now the government has to pay welfare cheques to provide for the teen and the baby. If she does go on to work after the birth of her child, she will enter the labour force as a menial worker. 

Pregnant middle schoolers in The United States.
The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the developed world

 Teen pregnancy is a delicate issue because in many societies the governing authorities do not want to even acknowledge that teenagers are engaging in sexual activity. We need to be able to face the problem head on like we did with many 'taboo' issues in the past. We should move past our cultural barriers and discuss this issue. Teenagers need to be given proper sex education, not only about safe sex but on how to deal with peer pressure. It is said about 60% of teens were coerced the first time they had sex. Teenagers that do get pregnant should also be given the education and  health support they need to carry the baby to term or where it is available terminate the pregnancy without fear and in sanitary conditions. 

Teenagers should also be made aware  of the dangers associated with pregnancy at a young age. 60% of teen mothers obstetric fistula with dire consequences to their social and physical lives. There are also health complications involved at having a baby when the body has not yet fully matured. A good number if these teens also expose themselves to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and AIDS. Many children of these teens do not reach their genetic potential because teens have limited knowledge and limited income.

You can read more about the harmful effects of teen pregnancy at Buzzle.com

Discrimination Of Albinos in Africa.

An Albino Man in Tanzania

It is reported that one in three Africans are albinos. The people that face many medical complications like many minorities since time immemorial have faced social problems as well. Since 2007 there have been headlines of the appalling atrocities committed against albinos. Among them killings or grave injuries that lead to their immediate death. Also, there has been a rise in rape cases among albino women. All this is said to be initiated by witch doctors who demand albino body parts for their wealth enhancing charms and recommend sleeping with an albino as a cure for HIV and AIDS. 
 When I read about the killings I was saddened and mortified. The saying "history repeats itself" is true. Since time immemorial minority groups have been persecuted simply because we have not taken the time to understand and celebrate their differences. Instead, we have gone from fearing their differences to hating them. We have examples of minority groups that have been discriminated against, these include the African Americans, Aboriginals, Native Americans and even the Jews. All these groups were different from the people that persecuted them. It was only after years of mistreatment that we celebrated the fact that black skin is just as beautiful as white skin and that Native American culture is rich with stories that teach us lessons about family and the environment. However by the time we as a world realised this, great damage had been done. We had forced the Native Americans to give up their culture and feel bad about it and blacks had been so de-humanized that they were filled with self loathing. Is that what we really want for the albinos?
 We should be embracing the albinos as fellow brothers, after all all that makes them different is their skin colour. Putting aside their poor health, they are capable of doing and achieving anything. They are not invalids! Salif Keita an internationally recognised singer has proven that.
 Solving this problem is more than just jailing the perpetrators. We need to enact laws that will show everyone that albinos are equal citizens and protected by law. We need to respect their differences and immerse them into society instead of allowing them to live on the threads of it as outsiders. Albinos should be treated accordingly so that their medical complications do not get in the way of their education and careers. I applaud the progress being made in Tanzania as they have just elected the first albino to Parliament but I think that there is room for more action. I would like to get to a point where fathers keep their albino kids instead of throwing them away. What about you?
If you are interested you can read more about the first albino law maker in Tanzania.