Malawi Youth Call for Rural Sexual Health Clinics
Health officials report that utilization of sexual and reproductive health services remains low throughout the district.
KARONGA, Malawi— Young people in rural Karonga are advocating for mobile health clinics to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services, citing prohibitive travel costs to existing facilities, writes Lusekero Mhango.
Youth in Village Headman Mwandanga's area must spend nearly K3,000 on transportation to reach the nearest health center, a significant barrier in the Traditional Authority Kyungu region.
"Having outreach clinics would greatly help us access these services and improve their uptake," said Salaya Munthali during an awareness campaign at Rukuru Primary School on Sunday.
The event, organized by Mwandanga One Youth Club with support from Pamoza Tingakwaniska Youth Organization, highlighted challenges faced by rural youth in accessing healthcare.
Local resident Paulina Kayisi emphasized that girls are particularly affected by the distance to health facilities, leading to increased teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
Emmanuel Moyo, media officer for Pamoza, praised the youth-led initiative.
"When youths organize these awareness campaigns, they capture the attention of the community, making it an ideal platform to share crucial information and services," he said.
The campaign, backed by Germany's Breucmann Foundation and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, featured activities including sports and educational drama performances.
Health officials report that utilization of sexual and reproductive health services remains low throughout the district.