-Nimba County Gender Coordinator Urges Young Girls
By Shallon S. Gonlor (shallonsgonlor@gmail.com)
NIMBA COUNTY — Madam Yah Belleh Suah, Nimba County Gender Coordinator, has issued a passionate plea to youthful girls to make wise decisions about their lives and futures.
Speaking at a forum organized by BRAC-Liberia in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, Madam Suah emphasized the importance of education and the dangers of teenage pregnancy.
“Give yourself time; care about education,” Madam Suah advised. “Say no to early motherhood, poverty, and persistent non support at court level.”
According to her, by prioritizing education, girls can break the cycle of poverty and dependency, and instead, build a brighter future for themselves.
Madam Suah warned girls about the dangers of teenage pregnancy, highlighting the potential consequences of early motherhood.
“In practical life, if you have children today, tomorrow you will get a man who loves but when he looks at the children he met with you, he will run away from you,” she cautioned. “So, start thinking about those things and why is it so?”
The County’s longest serving Gender Coordinator also emphasized the importance of marriage and responsibility.
“Any man that comes to you now should be able to marry you before they born by you,” she advised.
“Girls education pays, take advantage of education opportunity. Leave night club, social media, including TikTop, Facebook. Prepare for better future that lies ahead.”
Madam Suah’s message is clear — education is key to empowering girls and enabling them to achieve their full potential. By prioritizing education and avoiding teenage pregnancy, girls can build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
The Nimba County Gender Coordinator’s message serves as a clearing call to action for girls, parents, and the community at large.
Madam Suah emphasized, “Girls education pays, take advantage of education opportunity so it will enables girls to thrive and reach their full potential.”
Teenage pregnancy is a significant issue in Liberia, with far-reaching social, health, and economic implications for both mother and baby.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), approximately 38% of girls in Liberia become pregnant before the age of 20. This rate is one of the highest in the world.
The statistics revealed that around 30% of adolescent girls in Liberia become pregnant, with higher rates in rural areas (42%) compared to urban areas (24%).
Girls as young as 15-19 years old are affected, with some becoming mothers at the minimum age of 15-19 years. Teenage pregnancy also contributes significantly to dropout rates among school-going girls, with 67% of adolescent girls with no education being mothers, compared to 17% of those with secondary and higher education.
26% of adolescent pregnancies are unintended, and 30% end in unsafe abortion.
Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy include, lack of education, poverty, conservative practices, limited access to healthcare, and inadequate access to reproductive healthcare and family planning services exacerbates the issue.
