Five pupils of Uturo Primary School in Mbarali District, Mbeya Region were found to possess birth control pills as well as using them. Do you think this is a fair practice?

NO. To me this is a gross bleach of medical as well as customary ethics. A schoolgirl being in possession of birth control pills is something that needs immediate intervention. When it occurs, the girl should be told to stop the habit immediately because it is too early for such a girl to use birth control pills. It would have been better if they were in higher classes. But in general, they have to decide either to stick to lessons or leave school and get married.
Janet Japheth – Stenographer.
 
YES. I am of the opinion that the schoolgirls had the right to posses the said birth pills. As the world changes, we should acknowledge that no one is spared, including these schoolgirls. In the old times, it was almost a miracle for a 12-year girl to give birth. But such cases are common. Therefore schoolgirls have to take precautions as a consequence. In case they get pregnant and the parents do not report it, the parents are implicated according to the new laws. So they were protecting their parents as well.
Eliud Muhanyi – Petty Trader.
 
NO. I am totally against schoolgirls using birth control pills. In the first place, on medical grounds such bills have adverse side effects and one of them is the risk of being barren and or develop cardio-vascular diseases. Medically, a female is not allowed to use such pills unless she has conceived and a medical doctor has examined her and prescribed the right type of pills. The schoolgirls should be discouraged using such pills.
Sarah Katange – Midwife.
 
NO. I am against the practice of schoolgirls using birth control pills. We should ask ourselves one question: Why do these schoolgirls use the pill? Most probably, it is because they do not want to get pregnant. This means that they are practicing sexual intercourse. This is very dangerous. Because the said pills controls pregnancy and not HIV/AIDS, schoolgirls might get infected as early as in standard four. They should be encouraged to abstain or even use condoms, which will prevent pregnancies as well as HIV/AIDS.
Namisana Mkilya – Assistant Medical Officer.

Compiled by Timothy Kitundu.