Youths in Lilongwe demand reproductive health services

Youths in Lilongwe have expressed concern with challenges they face in accessing sexual and reproductive health services in public health facilities.

Speaking on Tuesday during a training for peer mobilisers in Lilongwe that YouthNet and Counselling (Yoneco) organised, Bwaila Youth Corner peer mobiliser Doreen Nyirenda said unsafe abortions, fistula and teenage pregnancies remain a serious concern due to failure by young people to access contraceptives.

She said stigma, lack of information and cultural attitudes continue to prevent many adolescents from seeking timely help at health facilities.

“One of the major issues that keeps coming up when we meet youths is unsafe abortion, which in some cases results in fistula among teenage girls,” said Nyirenda.

She said she was happy that the training focused on comprehensive sexuality education and linkage to youth-friendly health services, including HIV testing and counselling.

“It also addressed issues such as early and unprotected sex, sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancies,” said Nyirenda..

Biwi Clinic peer educator Bernadette Baluti said the training has equipped them with skills to promote safer practices among their peers.

She also noted that many young people avoid free condoms distributed at health facilities, despite them being safer than those bought from shops.

“Purchasing condoms from shops has risks because some traders sell expired condoms. So, we encourage youths to always check expiry dates or use free ones from hospitals,” said Nyirenda.

Yoneco programme support manager Hughes Munthali said peer-to-peer education is proving effective in addressing reproductive health challenges.

“Over the past three years, we have implemented this programme and have reached more than 3 000 youths, most of them adolescent girls and young women,” he said.

Yoneco is implementing the Connect Malawi Plus Project with support from ViiV Healthcare-Positive Action, targeting health facilities in Area 18, Bwaila, Biwi, Kawale and Kang’oma in Lilongwe.