Georgetown, Guyana — October 24, 2025 - In a bold step toward reducing adolescent and pregnancies and promoting safe motherhood, the Healthy Life Course Unit of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in collaboration with the Adolescent Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, launched a national awareness campaign “Let’s End Child Pregnancies” at the Sophia Health Centre. The initiative marks the beginning of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Week 2025; a series of activities aimed at empowering young mothers and preventing unintended pregnancies across Guyana.
Guyana continues to face challenges with adolescent birth rates, which remain higher than the average for the Latin America and Caribbean region. While the adolescent age-specific fertility rate has declined from 80.5 births per 1,000 girls aged 15–19 in 2010 to 66.6 in 2021, the numbers still reflect a pressing public health concern.
The awareness campaign focused on providing comprehensive guidance through a “safe motherhood approach”, emphasizing the importance of family planning, prenatal care, and healthy lifestyle choices. Topics covered included:
- Safe adolescent pregnancy and prevention strategies
- Essential practices for mother and baby
- Emergency signs during pregnancy and referral pathways
- Nutritional guidance
- Educational and career opportunities for adolescent mothers
A key feature of the campaign was the use of a ‘Roadmap Tool’ designed to actively engage adolescent mothers in understanding the stages of a healthy pregnancy and the benefits of family planning. The interactive session included open discussions, a question-and-answer segment, and practical advice from healthcare professionals on labour, breastfeeding, and postnatal care.
Nurses at the Sophia Health Centre also provided valuable information on registering newborns for post-natal clinics and the importance of continued family planning support. At the conclusion of the event, adolescent mothers received maternity care packages as a gesture of support and encouragement.
This campaign is part of a broader national effort, with similar activities scheduled to take place at health facilities across the country throughout the month. PAHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting adolescent health initiatives in Guyana, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce teenage pregnancies and improve maternal health outcomes by 2030.
