Ipas, Community Forum partner on SRHR
Ipas Malawi partners with Community Forum Organization to address unsafe abortion and promote SRHR in Chikwawa , writes Comfort Bulangete.
Chikwawa, Malawi - Ipas Malawi and Community Forum partner to reduce maternal deaths, raise SRHR awareness in Chikwawa, writes Comfort Bulangete.
During a community forum held on Friday, Ipas Health Systems Advisor, Christopher Kandionamaso, addressed Chikwawa District stakeholders to provide updates on the organization's support to the Ministry of Health in the district.
The focus is on reducing unsafe abortion-related deaths by training clinicians and nurses to handle such cases.
"Ipas is dedicated to reducing unsafe abortion-related deaths by training nurses and clinicians. We have also trained youth champions on SRHR information. There are several issues that the government needs to address, including health information, as many people in the communities are unaware of the health services available to them," explained Kandionamaso.
Christopher Chingwalu, the Chikwawa Post-Abortion Care Coordinator, shared that since the involvement of Ipas, there has been a notable improvement, with no reported deaths due to unsafe abortion complications last year, except for two deaths this year.
However, a lack of resources and an insufficient number of service providers remain significant challenges in the region.
In the meantime, Emmanuel Yohane, the Chikwawa District Youth Chairperson, appealed to lawmakers to pass a safe abortion bill.
He emphasised that this issue burdens the youth, and he has been actively involved in conducting awareness campaigns to disseminate SRHR messages among youths in the district.
Ipas Malawi is currently working in five health facilities in Chikwawa, namely Nkumaniza, Makhuwira, Ngabu Rural, and Chapananga, strengthening efforts to reduce unsafe abortion complications.
The collaborative efforts of Ipas Malawi and the Community Forum Organisation are vital in promoting safe and accessible reproductive healthcare services, reducing unsafe abortion cases, and empowering young people with knowledge about their sexual and reproductive health rights in Chikwawa District.