A total of 154 teenage pregnancies were recorded in two clinics under Sandleni constituency last year.
National Executive Director of the National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA) Dr Nondumiso Ncube urged young people under the inkhundla to abstain.
Ncube made the call while addressing residents during Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini’s tour of government-funded projects in the area.
The director reminded the public that HIV remained a public health threat in the country, thus required everyone’s commitment to strengthen prevention and viral suppression efforts.
She said as an organisation that coordinates HIV response, they had noted trends in Sandleni Inkhundla that could contribute to new infections.
Dr Ncube revealed that data collected in the constituency showed children dropping out of school and teenagers falling pregnant.
She said the 2025 statistics for school dropouts were concerning with 59 pupils having dropped out of primary school, while 41 dropped out of high school.
The director said according to the data from the two health facilities (Jericho and Nhletjeni clinics), 154 children between the ages of 10 and 19 fell pregnant last year.
From these children four of them were between 10 and 14 while 150 were between 15 and 19 years.
RELATED | DPM: Parents concealing teenage pregnancies, hampering intervention
She said this indicated that children engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse, which may put them at risk of contracting HIV.
She said what is expected from pupils is abstinence.
She added that the area had also recorded cases of gender-based violence (GBV), revealing that it was increasing, especially in the Shiselweni region, including Sandleni Inkhundla.
She said NERCHA wants to end this as it contributed to the spread of HIV.
Ncube said when looking at the number of teenagers who drop out of school due to pregnancy, it must be noted that this is another form of abuse, especially if the child is below the age of 18.
She pointed out that NERCHA launched Phase 3 of the PLHIV Support programme aimed at helping people living with HIV with funds to start businesses to sustain themselves so they do not skip medication due to lack of food.
Dr Ncube said she was happy to see groups from Sandleni Inkhundla showing interest in getting help.
She encouraged the groups to continue collaborating.
“I encourage Sandleni youth to abstain. Those who have already started having sexual intercourse, I encourage them to use protection so that they do not contract HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, or fall pregnant,” she said.
