You may land yourself behind bars for a period not exceeding 20 years for giving contraceptives to minors, this is according to Dr Stephen Kaliti, head of reproductive and maternal health at the Health.
The government insists that access to contraception for minors contravenes the Children Act and is compared to allowing a minor to drive a car without valid documentation.
Dr Kaliti said it is responsibility of the society to allow children to be children and not young adults who can consent to sex.
Statistics indicate that one in every four girls in the country aged 10 to 19 is either pregnant or has given birth to a first child, as reported by National Council for Population and Development report 2021.
The issue of contraception elicits different reactions among various stakeholders.
“We cannot normalise illegality because it is happening. Children are supposed to be in school and protected until they are able to handle matters of social competency. Decisions on sexuality and reproduction require some of the highest competencies one can ever need,” Dr Kaliti said.
While there is a divided opinion on when young adults should be part of the contraceptive debate, there lies a thin line between educative knowledge and the freedom to indulge in early sexual activities.
“Here we are talking about allowing our small girls to have the license to drive their body, which is more important than even a car. We cannot allow this,” he emphasised during a heated debate on whether adolescents should be given contraceptives.
He said that the government has a policy that rehabilitates young adults who are sexually active and not by giving them contraceptives.
“We must recognise and protect the rights of the children but understand the space under which they operate. Instead of causing them more harm, help them to transition,” he said.
Dr Kaliti says that the law will be applied to any healthcare worker who will administer a contraceptive without the consent of the parent who will have violated the law and risk being jailed.
