Parliament launches health rights project
Malawi Parliament alongside the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Parliamentary Forum has launched a sexual reproductive health rights project geared at improving access to such services among constituents.
Through the project, launched on Wednesday in Lilongwe, members of Parliament (MPs) will be able to execute projects where they will engage stakeholders and their constituents in activities aimed at improving sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) services accessibility and delivery.
Speaking during the launch, Sadc Parliamentary Forum secretary general Boemo Sekgoma said the MPs are also expected to pass a legislation that will allow improved SRHR services delivery.
She said: “We must have mechanisms in place for Parliament staff and MPs to be able to interact with the project. It will also ensure that some societies are able to interact with the Parliament precincts.”
Sekgoma observed that Malawi is one of 10 Parliaments in the Sadc region with this type of project.
In his remarks, First Deputy Speaker Madalitso Kazombo said the Malawi Parliament is ready to implement the project and that the MPs are committed to delivering excellent results.
Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education executive director Lucky Mbewe said civil society organisations in the SRHR space are excited with the project because it gives them leverage to advance SRH rights forward.
He said: “We believe that Parliament is a good space for advancement of SRH rights. There are legislation reviews which are stagnating because of not so clear reasons and this project is going to help us engage relevant stakeholders and make progress.”
According to Sekgoma, of the $5 million (about K8.5 billion) allocated to the project annually, Malawi Parliament can access $82 000 (about K140 million) but the amount can go up depending on need.
