AUGUST 3 — Today 3rd of August is the official launch of the National Baby Dumping Prevention campaign by the Deputy PM, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah and to spread awareness about the problem as well as the Kasih Helpline for Pregnant women in crisis with an unwanted pregnancy.
It is indeed now very encouraging to note that the Pakatan Government in this very issue lead by Our Deputy PM Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah and her Deputy Minister YB Hannah Yeoh has courageously acknowledged the problem and is serious in tackling the issue. Statistics from 2014 had shown that 4.8% of our teenagers are sexually active rising to 7.3% in 2017. Many of them do not use Contraceptives. By acknowledging the fact that sexual activity happens in the young irregardless of laws and allowing access to contraceptives for those who are already sexually active as a harm reduction measure goes a long way towards effective strategies.
The pregnant teenage mother frequently faced the possibilities of persecution by various acts including religious laws and until we can amend the punitive environment that these teenage mothers are faced with, minimal gains will be achieved.