Nearly half of girls in Kasaï-Oriental are married before turning 18, a situation that compromises their future and health.
Nearly 48% of girls in Kasaï-Oriental are married before the age of 18, according to the provincial Minister of Health, Daniel Kazadi. This figure, revealed during the launch of the Bomoyi ya Maman na Muana project, highlights the scale of a phenomenon that severely jeopardizes the future of adolescent girls.
Minister Kazadi stated that early marriage often leads to early pregnancy, carrying significant risks of complications and maternal deaths. He emphasized that one in two girls faces the interruption of their childhood, compromised schooling, and an affected future.
Early marriages are identified as a public health issue, but also one of education, rights protection, and development. The minister stressed that combating maternal mortality necessitates action against early marriages and pregnancies, which are considered a public health and development challenge.
Why it mattersAdolescent girls in Kasaï-Oriental are affected by early marriages, which interrupt their education and lead to high-risk pregnancies.
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