Youths to promote reproductive health

The youth in Lilongwe have pledged to play a leading role in advocating for youth-friendly health services in facilities to promote access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services among young people.

Speaking on Monday during a training for the youth on SRH issues, Loveness Masauko, who is also Lilongwe district youth officer, said they will take the message to fellow youths in the district.

She commended YouthNet and Counselling Organisation (Yoneco) for organising the training for the youth who will be key in promoting SRH issues.

“The training has equipped the youth with knowledge on how to mobilise fellow youths to seek SRH services,” said Masauko.

Kawale Health Centre youth-friendly services secretary Josephine Andsen said the youth are eager to promote youth-friendly health services, but they lack necessary support.

“I commend Yoneco for the training because they have equipped us with what we didn’t know. The youth are active, but lack capacity building, as such, the training will empower them to promote SRH services,” she said.

Andsen asked government and the private sector to invest more in the youth who are ready to engage communities to adopt family planning methods.

Lilongwe district youth-friendly health services coordinator Andrew Mphongolo said government is eager to engage the youth in the exercise.

“We have always wanted to work with young people and we will support them,” he said.

Last week, Parliamentary Committee on Social and Community Welfare chairperson Savel Kafwafwa bemoaned unplanned pregnancies among the youth and blamed poor access to family planning and SRHR services for the situation.

He also attributed the HIV prevalence of 22 percent among youths aged between 15 and 30 in the country to poor access to SRHR services.