TATAU: The Sarawak government has set a key performance index (KPI) to reduce the number of teenage pregnancy cases by 10 per cent each year.
This is an effort to address the issue of teenage pregnancy, said Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai.
According to him, based on statistics from the State Health Department, the number of pregnant teenagers has been declining since 2014, from 3,401 cases to 1,623 cases in 2021.
He explained that among the divisions that showed a decrease were Limbang by 49.3 per cent, Samarahan (45.3 per cent), Sri Aman (35.9 per cent), Kapit (35.7 per cent), Betong (29.5 per cent), Bintulu (28.6 per cent), Serian ( 28.3 per cent), Sibu (19.4 per cent), Sarikei (19.0 per cent), Kuching (14.1 per cent) and Miri (12.0 per cent).
“Only one division recorded an increase in the number of teenage pregnancy cases in 2021 compared to 2020, namely the Mukah Division with an increase of 24.2 per cent,” he said.
Sikie, who is also Kakus Assemblyman, added that, overall, 2021 recorded a decrease in the number of teenage pregnancy cases by 22.7 per cent compared to 2020.
He added that the downward trend encouraged the Sarawak government, through the Sarawak Social Development Council and its strategic partners in the One Stop Teenage Pregnancy Committee (OSTPC), to continue operating the KAPS programme in secondary schools throughout Sarawak.
“For a period of five years, starting from 2016 to 2020, the Sarawak Social Development Council has collaborated with OSTPC members at the state and divisional levels to conduct a total of 61 series of KAPS programmes in national secondary schools throughout Sarawak.
According to him, this year, there are plans to implement a total of 26 series of KAPS programmes in national secondary schools.
“There arealso plans to implement a total of 24 series of KAPS programmes in primary schools throughout Sarawak.
“For the Bintulu Division, a total of four KAPS programmes are planned to be implemented this year, with two series at SMK Tatau in Tatau District and SMK Bintulu in Bintulu District while two more KAPS programmes will be held for primary schools, respectively at SK Sebauh and SK Labang in Sebauh District.
