Pamoza Tingakwaniska Youth Organisation has urged the youth in Karonga District to avoid risky behaviour, during the festive season to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies.
leaders. I Jordan Simeon-Phiri
The warning follows several activities the youth have lined up in the district, including visiting the lake and parties as part of celebrating Christmas and New Year.
The organisation’s nurse, Dorothy Msiska, said in an interview on Tuesday that they are conducting an awareness campaign to advise young people against indulging in immoral activities, during the festivities, including unprotected sex and alcohol abuse.
She said: “We are interacting with traditional leaders, parents and youths on the dangers of indulging in risky behaviour.
“We also want them to know that we are running a mobile clinic that offers family planning services to the youth to ensure that they are protected during the festive season
Group village head Mwambetaniya of Traditional Authority Kyungu described the awareness campaign as timely, saying prevention is better than cure.
“During these festivities, youths flock to the lake to have fun. They take alcohol and drugs and in turn indulge in unprotected sex which subjects them to sexually transmitted infections.
“We need partners to raise awareness on the dangers of risky behaviours during the festive season,” he said.
Mbande Youth Club chairperson Walusungu Kaseye commended the organisation for conducting the campaign and introducing the mobile clinic to provide the youth with contraceptives.
“The youth, as future leaders, should be helped to live health lives to meaningfully contribute towards the country’s socio-economic development,” he said.
A youth, James Ng’ambi from Karonga Boma, said he will will not do things that will put his life in danger.
The organisation is conducting the awareness campaign with financial support from
the Breuckmann Foundation.
