Magga trains girls on reproductive health
Malawi Girl Guides Association (Magga) has trained about 200 girls on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) during a one-week camp at Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) in Thyolo.
The training offered the girls reproductive health information, menstrual health management, abstinence and youth-friendly health services.
Magga president Susan Phukaphuka said at the end of the camp on Saturday that the training will equip girls with life skills and empower them with knowledge for managing their reproductive health.
“We discovered there was a knowledge gap on SRH among girls. So, we wanted to address that. Now they know how to make decisions that will help them remain in school by avoiding early pregnancies,” she said.
United Nations Pupulation Fund (UNFPA) programme analyst for adolescents and youths Rose Khonje, whose organisation is working in partnership with Magga, said she was satisfied with the training.
“Now the girls will be able to access youth-friendly services. Again, Magga has taught them about gender-based violence and how to report it to police,” she said.
One of the participants, Chikondi Bonongwe, said the training will boost her self-esteem to work hard in class. “I became pregnant while in primary school. However, through UNFPA I returned to school and here I have learnt how to remain in school,” she said.
