Youths call for more out reach clinics in Chitipa

Youths in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwenewenya in Chitipa District have called for more outreach clinics, saying they are key in increasing uptake of family planning methods among them.

The youths made the call on Tuesday when Pamoza Tingakwaniska Youth Organisation conducted an outreach clinic in group village head Kamilamphande to take sexual and reproductive health services closer to youth and communities that are far from health centres.

A member of Mpale Youth Club in the area, Maria Kalua, said accessing family planning methods is a challenge due to high transportation costs to distant health facilities.

She said: “For us to access sexual reproductive health services, we pay high transport costs which many youths cannot afford.

“These outreach clinics have brought services closer to us and we need more of these so that more youths are reached.”

Pamoza Tingakwaniska Organisation programme manager Gomezgani Mhango asked village heads to promote awareness on the importance of family planning among the youth to minimise misconceptions about the use of family planning methods.

“We ask our chiefs to help in dealing with misconceptions and rejection of family planning in some communities as some parents deny youth access to sexual reproductive health services,” he said.

The outreach clinics projects started in July 2022 and are expected to end in December this year