By A Senior Two student at Nebbi has given birth in the school dormitory, sparking concerns over the effectiveness of pregnancy screening measures.
The pregnancy had been detected earlier but required additional confirmation, according to Cekecan, a school official.
Despite the ongoing initiative to screen all female students for pregnancy, some Senior One students have not yet been tested, particularly after recent sports activities.
The student’s pregnancy was confirmed a week before the delivery, but further verification was still needed.
In 2022, the Ugandan government introduced guidelines to manage pregnancies in educational settings, including mandatory pregnancy screenings for female students at least once per term. The policy also requires the formation of a subcommittee to oversee the retention and reintegration of pregnant learners. However, the policy has faced opposition from religious leaders and others who have contested its implementation.
When the delivery occurred, Cekecan arrived to find that the student had already given birth. The newborn, weighing 2.1 kilograms, was stable, and both the mother and child were immediately transferred to a local health center for further monitoring and care.
The delivery was described as unexpected, with the student reportedly concealing her pregnancy throughout her time at school. The third stage of labor, the delivery of the placenta, involved some complications, but the medical staff managed to address the postpartum hemorrhage effectively.
This case raises significant questions about the implementation of pregnancy screening procedures, with many in the community expressing confusion over how the pregnancy went undetected. Clinical Officer Innocent Obedyo, involved in the care of the mother and child, remarked on the situation’s “significant surprise” and emphasized concerns about the thoroughness of screening protocols.
