Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has pledged to support communities in Nkhotakota District to access maternal and reproductive health under the Empowering Women with Obstetric Fistula Project.
Speaking on Tuesday, the ministry’s director of inclusive education, school health and nutrition Virginia Kachigunde told a technical committee meeting in Nkhotakota that comprehensive sexuality education is already part of the curriculum, making it easier to address gaps identified in parent-teacher associations and extend information to learners at grassroots level.
“We cannot fight fistula if we do not address adolescents about their health,” she said.
Nkhotakota acting district commissioner Mathias Blugama commended the Embassy of Iceland for funding the project, saying it addresses critical community needs.
He urged officers to work diligently to build donor confidence as the project contributes to reducing maternal mortality in the district.
A community member Jonas Mlenga from Traditional Authority Kanyenda in the district said the project will help reduce teenage pregnancies, which is one of the causes of fistula conditions.
“Women with fistula conditions will also know where to get treatment,” he said.
First Secretary at the Embassy of Iceland Siggi Geirsson reaffirmed the embassy’s commitment to supporting interventions aligned with its vision and called on implementing partners to collaborate towards achieving the project’s goals.
The three-year project is running with support from the Government of Iceland through UNFPA to the tune of about $1 061 911.38.
The project runs up to 2027 and covers all traditional authorities in the lakeshore district.
