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‘Parents hostile towards reproductive health rights’

Centre for Alternatives for Victimised Women and Children (Cavwoc) says parents’ hostility towards sexual reproductive health rights is affecting youths’ access to reproductive health services in Balaka District.

Speaking in Balaka on Wednesday when he briefed the district executive committee on Health Awareness Promotion for Young People project, Cavwoc project officer Khumbolane Nyirenda said parents who do not accept sexual reproductive health rights services fail to encourage their children to access the services.

She said: “The inability to openly talk between children and parents on sexual reproduction health is widespread because of culture and traditions.

Nyirenda: They can’t influence

“Moreover, parents who cannot appreciate the importance of sexual reproductive services themselves cannot influence their children to accept the services.”

Nyirenda said they introduced the project in Traditional Authority Amidu, which is predominantly Yao, to promote male engagement and address parents’ hostility.

Balaka district youth officer Godfrey Mpinganjira said advancing youth sexual reproductive health rights and sexual education information will ensure a healthy future for the country.

“Involvement of parents and youth sexual reproductive health rights will iron out the challenges dogging youth health issues in the area,” he said.

Balaka Civil Society Organisations network chairperson John Bamusi said in some societies, talking openly about sexual reproductive health rights issues is still considered a taboo.

“Parents think you are promoting promiscuity among the youth when you talk about these things,” he said.

With funding from the UNaids to tune of K9 million, Cavwoc is implementing the project reaching out to 500 youths, 20 parents, eight local leaders and 50 peer educators.

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