Group village head Kayelekera of Traditional Authority Kyungu in Karonga District has emphasised the need to scale up sexual and reproductive health services (SRH) in the area.
He raised the concern on Monday during a mobile clinic Pamoza Tingakwaniska Youth Organisation conducted to raise awareness on SRH and family planning services in the area.
Said the chief: “We commend the organisation for the outreach clinic because parents now know where to get family planning services.
“The unavailability of SRH services is contributing to teen pregnancies resulting in school dropout.”
The chief said they formulated by-laws to punish parents who force girls into early marriages.
On her part, Kayuni Primary School health and nutrition teacher Saviour Magawa said two boys dropped out in 2023 while 10 girls went into early marriages this year.
“However, a boy and 15 girls have dropped out of school this year,” he said.
The school’s head teacher Michael Banda attributed the dropouts to long distances that girls walk to school and lack of role models to inspire them.
“We thank the organisation for the outreach clinic. We preach abstinence, but the youth are sexually
active. Therefore, let us allow them access family planning services to prevent unplanned pregnancies and subsequent early marriages,” he said.
The organisation’s media officer Emmanuel Moyo said they organised a football bonanza to woo the youth to come in large numbers.
“We want to scale up the uptake of family planning services among women and youths. We are pleased that we have empowered community structures to work effectively and that they will be able to promote SRH services in the area,” he said.
Pamoza Tingakwaniska Youth Organisation conducted the event with financial support from Breuckmann Foundation and Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
