Representative Brenes Was ‘Petrified’ When Visiting a Shelter for Pregnant Girls in Panama
Congresswoman Alexandra Brenes explained that, during a visit to a shelter for pregnant minors, she was shocked by the number of cases.
The congresswoman from the Vamos coalition, Alexandra Brenes, on the p;rogram “Open Debate” referred to the tours carried out in private and state shelters in Panama City, during a working tour with SENNIAF. Brenes explained that, during a visit to a shelter for pregnant girls and teenagers, she was shocked by the number of cases involving children aged 8 and 9, specifically from rural areas. “I was petrified. I kept saying, ‘How can we allow these kinds of situations in this country?’ And indeed, it’s something that’s been discussed a lot this week; the girls, at this particular shelter, arrive pregnant,” the congresswoman explained.
She also indicated that there are plans to visit hard-to-reach places, where the highest incidence of early pregnancies is recorded, to work together on solutions to this problem. Since last month, Brenes and the National Assembly’s Women’s Commission have inspected several comprehensive care centers to verify the health and living conditions of the children. These actions come after allegations of negligence on the part of SENNIAF and reports of sexual abuse within these facilities.
