A help center for pregnant teenagers opened this month in Kunming, capital in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Built by Yunnan Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Yunnan Modern Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Yunan Women and Children Hospital, the center, first of its kind in Yunnan, aims to provide free abortions and consultation for pregnant girls, age 18 and under.

Liu Zhengqi, head of the Yunnan Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital noted that girls will receive free birth control within one week of having sexual intercourse. If they are pregnant and do not want to have the baby they can receive free abortion operation provided by the center.

Teen pregnancy has long been regarded as a serious issue in Chinese society, as it can bring troubles that will haunt the girls for the rest of her life. If their school learns of their pregnancy, many of them will be expelled. Teenagers usually abort the pregnancy or desert the baby after giving birth.

Unplanned pregnancy among teenage girls has also become a global concern. According to statistics, a total of 14 million teenage girls give birth each year in the world, and an additional 4.4 million choose to have an abortion.

Liu said the center does not encourage premarital sex, but helps protect and educate teenagers. The most crucial measure to curbing teen pregnancy is to promote sex education.  

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2004)