Wokha, January 25 (MExN): To commemorate National Girl Child Day, Wokha organised an awareness programme on ‘Substance Abuse and Teenager Pregnancy’ at Longsa village.
A DIPR report stated that I Yentinoungbou, EAC, Wokha in his keynote address, exhorted the participants to hear the voice of girls and women in the society and not to suppress it. He addressed the problem of inheritance that is plaguing the Naga society. Commenting on property rights, he encouraged the participants to give equal share to their daughters as they are also their offspring just like their sons.
Dr Thungjamo, Medical Officer of Nyiro PHC speaking on the impact of substance abuse disorder, mentioned the factors that lead to substance abuse in an individual and how parents as well as the society can work together in helping an individual fight against this disorder. He also encouraged the participants to involve themselves in such kind of awareness programmes so as to help themselves or someone who are in need of intervention.
Speech on the importance of girl child education was also delivered by Anuranjan Singh, Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. He stated that parents should not decide their children’s career, rather they should encourage and support them to choose and make their own career path which he said will eventually lead to healthy society for the girl child to grow.
Dr Thungdeno Murry, Medical Officer (AYUSH), Chukitong delivered a speech on the impact of teen pregnancy. Speaking on the occasion, she stated that because of teen pregnancy, many of the young teens are unable to continue their education leading to higher dropout rates in the district. She shared that Wokha district has the highest number of teen pregnancy compared to other districts of Nagaland, and the need of our society is to wake up and take action in preventing this problem. She also shared on the importance of providing sex education to young boys and girls by their parents. She called on the parents to keep aside their hesitancy and uneasiness in taking about this in the family and to speak openly to them, so that their children will be equipped with proper knowledge and hence, prevent teen pregnancy.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Wonchano E Enny, Women Welfare Officer, DLCW-MSK, Wokha.
