People told to access family planning services
Family Planning Association of Malawi social behaviour and communications lead Andrew Bishop Mkandawire has asked people in Rumphi and Mzimba districts to seek family planning services to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
He said this on Friday during awareness meetings the organisation conducted in the two districts on post-abortion care and abortion law reforms under the Wish II Action Post Abortion Care Advocacy project.
Mkandawire said: “We are advocating that youths, women and men should seek family planning services to curb unplanned pregnancies which are resulting in high cases of unsafe abortion in the districts.
“As an organisation, we are worried with high cases of unsafe abortion because the situation is putting the lives of women and girls at risk.”
He said the project is working with youths to empower them to raise awareness on post-abortion care and family planning services in their communities.
Rumphi district youth network chairperson Dennis Mkandawire said most youths and women do not access family planning services due to cultural beliefs.
“This has led to unplanned pregnancies, early marriages and unsafe abortion,” he said.
On her part, Mzimba Youth Network chairperson Emily Nyirenda said they are raising awareness on post-abortion care and family planning services.
“We are conducting awareness campaigns to reach to fellow youths, men and women on post-abortion care and how they can prevent unplanned pregnancies,” she said.
Mzimba District Health Office post-abortion care coordinator Gracious Masewo said they recorded 607 cases of unsafe abortion from January to June this year.
