KAPIT : Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi advised youth to behave and disciplined themselves to stay away from social menace like teenage pregnancy or drug abuse. “Government viewed seriously issues like teenage pregnancy or drug abuse among the teenagers aged between 14 to 18 years old.
In addressing such issues the government, through the various agencies has organised various activities and programmes to create awareness among the teenagers to stay away from social issues that could adversely affect their future” said Nanta, when officiating at the closing of the one day course ‘Kursus Nur-Sejahtera Remaja Peringkat Kapit’ held at Meligai Hotel, that was organised by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.
The one day course, under P 215 Kapit Parliament was chaired by Datin Angelina Celestine Ujang and attended by forty teenagers who were fourteen to eighteen years old. Nanta further called on the teenagers to give focus in their studies seriously while in school to prepare their own future. “Your future is in your hands, hence during school years, your duty is to study very hard to score good results in school and public examination.
You can make friends but don’t fall in love yet because this is not the time yet”, advised Nanta. Chairperson of the Women, F ami l y a n d C ommu n i t y Development for P215 Kapit Parliamentarty constituency, Datin Angelina, who spoke earlier at the function said the course among others was to create awareness on the pressing issues of teenage pregnancy and drug abuse that could adversely affect family institution, social value and moral of the society.
She added that although there is no case of abandoned child so far but the high rate of teenage pregnancy is worrisome. Angelina revealed that according to statistics, Kapit has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy at 14.1 per cent in 2016 while Sarikei has 9. 1 per cent, Betong recorded an 8.5 per cent, Bintulu 8 per cent and Sibu 7.8 per cent.
“Altogether Kapit has recorded some 232 cases out of 2481 teenage pregnancy recorded in the state for 2016. This is worrisome because teenage pregnancy involves girl below 20 years old and unmarried. This involved social issues of education, safety and health, marriage status, religion and citizenship and so forth ” she pointed out.
She thanked PEMADAM Kapit District, the Police Department and other agencies involved directly or indirectly for the success in organising the course. Present at the function were Kapit District Officer Elvis Didit who is the chairman of PEMADAM Kapit, Kapit police chief, DSP Freddy Bian, Nanta’s special affairs officer Ambrose Abong and Penghulu Sia Shui Poh.
