Pregnant Grade 7 Girl collapses during exam
As the world commemorates the Day of the Girl Child under the theme “Our time is now-our rights, our future”, a pregnant Grade 7 pupil the peri-urban community of Rowa just outside Mutare collapsed soon after sitting for her final exam on Monday.
She was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where she is set to undergo Caesarean Section for delivery. Her name and the name of the school cannot be mentioned to protect the minor.
Mutare District Schools Inspector, Mr Crezin Chofambaconfirmed the issue and said it was discovered that the young girl was pregnant after her final examination on Monday.
“As a ministry, we value giving access to education to young girls, no matter their circumstances. Questions surrounding her pregnancy should not deter her from accessing education,” he said. The said child will give birth through Caesarean Section.
“She is admitted at the hospital. The pregnancy has not yet reached the number of months required for delivery, so she will remain in hospital until she undergoes Caesarean Section. Due to her age, she is not able to deliver the baby naturally”.
The incident in Rowa comes hard on the heels of another Grade Seven learner at Murongwe Primary School in Mberengwa East who recently experienced labour pains during her examinations. The young girl was rushed home where she gave birth.
The incidences, among many similar ones going unreported, are indicative of the child pregnancies menace.
As the world commemorated the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, UNICEF released a statement: “The challenges girls in Zimbabwe face remain important, including the risk of becoming pregnant or married at an early age. Adolescent pregnancies and child marriage are widespread in Zimbabwe. One woman out of three is married before the age of 18.
“Child marriage has a devastating impact on the lives of adolescent girls. It disrupts childhood and often leads to early pregnancies with health complications, and school drop-out, preventing girls from developing their full potential.
