PREGNANCY CARE

Waakisa Pregnancy Care Centre exists to provide a future full of hope and possibility to every young woman who desires the opportunity to transform her life and future.

Waakisa Youth Centre is dedicated to seeing young women reach their full potential. Providing care in unplanned pregnancy situations this gives young women the opportunity to live in a safe environment for an extended period. Working with professionals enables young women to discover their value, vision and skills to move forward from abject despair and poverty into a fruitful future.

Waakisa provide a holistic program that addresses all aspects of a young woman's well being; physical, spiritual and emotional. Waakisa is a faith based organisation dedicated to the support of young women in crisis.

State of teen pregnancy in Uganda (a report from United Nations 2006)

The United Nations Population Fund State of World Population Report 2006, says Uganda has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Most young women live in poverty and are always under peer pressure, which often forces them to turn to sex in exchange for gifts.
The United Nations Children's Fund says early childbearing is a major cause of death among young women, who are prone to birth complications.

Teenage pregnancy rates vary widely, but the teenage pregnancy prevalence in Uganda dropped from 43% to 31% in 2003 due to increased use of condoms, reduction of sexual partners and delay in sexual debut, according to the 2003 State of Uganda's Population Report.

The report pointed out that childbearing and sexual activities start as early as 14 years old. By the age of 15, 30% of the women have had sexual intercourse and by 18, the proportion increases to 72%, according to the report.

The fertility rate, was attributed to low levels of education, low incomes and social status, early marriages, low contraceptive use, religious and cultural beliefs.

One girl's story...

A quite knock on the door, our counselor Esther answers.

A young and very frightened teenager has arrived, she is in need of help and in need of hope, Esther in her soft calm voice simply says "Hi I'm Esther how can I help you" and in that moment between fear and tears, Esther gives the precious time needed to talk things through with the young girl and find out how she can help in her situation.

Another relationship has been formed, another precious life saved, this is a normal beginning of the day at Waakisa Youth Centre.

   Waakisa Pregnancy Care Centre.

Some of the teen mums who have been helped at the Waakisa Youth Pregnancy Care Centre with their beautiful babies.