First Lady Jeannette Kagame joined thousands of young people, policymakers, and development partners at the Kigali Convention Centre for a crucial national youth dialogue. Held under the theme “Building Strong and Safe Families: Accelerating Efforts to Prevent and Eliminate Teenage Pregnancies,” the forum focused heavily on adolescent sexual and reproductive health, youth empowerment, and collective community action.

The urgency of the summit was underscored by startling new data. Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana revealed that over 23,000 adolescent girls become pregnant in Rwanda annually averaging roughly 63 cases every single day. This marks a 5% to 8% surge compared to patterns documented between 2020 and 2025.

Minister Nsanzimana emphasized the severe vulnerability of girls under 19, who face elevated risks of childbirth complications and maternal mortality. Furthermore, statistics show that approximately one in three children suffering from stunting or born prematurely are delivered by teenage mothers, highlighting the broader socio-economic and medical toll on families.