Teen eyes nursing after delivering ahead of exam

She is looking forward to a career in the medical practice as a nurse. That is the ambition of Harriet Kobusinge, the 16-year-old student who gave birth to her first baby as she prepared to sit for Physics Paper II exams last Tuesday at Rusekere Secondary School in Kabarole District.

The Senior Four candidate says her experience did not break her resolve to succeed and help young mothers in future.
“I want to become a nurse and offer health education especially about reproductive health which will help teenagers in future. If I had got this education, this would not have happened to me,” Ms Kobusinge said.

The new mother adds that she has not faced any challenges since giving birth.

“I am not having any problem, I rush to school, do my papers and come back home to look after my baby. I am not bothered about the students. I do not have time for them, I just go in the examination and after I move out straight home,” Ms Kobusinge told the Daily Monitor at her home.

She says the school management treated her well. “They would have disallowed me from sitting the paper,” she added.
Kobusinge has for the last two weeks been anxious to deliver a baby and had reportedly been discussingit with her classmates although many could hardly believe it because her stomach had not bulged as it does for many expectant mothers.

Her classmates were perplexed when Kobusinge developed labour pains and was rushed to Kijura Health Centre where she gave birth to a bouncing baby girl.

“She was never bothered about her condition before the exam, she joked with us about giving birth during the exam, saying if she gave birth, she would go to hospital and come back to finish the rest of the exams,” one of her friends said.
After delivery, Kobusinge returned to school, sat for History Paper IV in the afternoon as health workers took care of her baby.

She returned to school the following day and apparently left her new born baby under the care of her aunt, Ms Violet Kajoina.

Ms Kajoina, a resident of Bwabya Village, Rusekere Parish in Kijura Sub-county, said their family is happy with the birth of the baby and promised to support the teenager.

“I am happy for my daughter for coming from labour alive at her age. I will support her education and the baby.This cannot kill her dream.” Ms Kajoina said

The head teacher, Ms Immaculate Kamara Bagonza, said the school has tried to fight pregnancy through sex education and sometimes dismisses those found pregnant to deter others, adding that they were unaware of Kobusinge’s condition because she stopped coming to school.

Other cases
2009. Fiona Bbaale, 18, delivered as she sat for her Primary Leaving Examinations at Kiryandongo BCS Primary School, Kiryandongo District.
2008. Rukia Dawa, 19, a student of Midigo SS in Yumbe District delivered shortly before sitting for a biology Senior Four exam.