Mzimba North Advocates Improved Youth Access to Sexual Health Services
The advocacy efforts aim to boost young people's health and development in Mzimba North through improved sexual and reproductive care.
MZIMBA, Malawi — Community leaders are pushing for enhanced sexual and reproductive health services tailored to young people in this northern district, writes Tionge Hara.
The high-level meeting at Enukweni Health Centre brought together youth advocates, health officials and facility management to address barriers to confidential, youth-friendly care.
"Our goal is to ensure that young people have reliable access to comprehensive and confidential SRH services," said Gibson Chisale, executive director of PACE for Social Change.
Participants called for the health centre to appoint a dedicated youth coordinator and improve the supply of family planning commodities.
Attendee Jane Mughogho described the current challenges, saying, "We normally visit the centre at different times, others in the morning hours, others in the afternoon, so with the unavailability of the coordinator, it's difficult for us."
District youth officer Mathews Msokwa acknowledged the need for better coordination between community health workers and youth distribution agents.
However, he also emphasised youth responsibility, noting services are available but underutilised.
"The problem is not lack of family planning services, but the youths don't use such commodities even when they have them," Msokwa said.
Malawi SRHR Alliance, in collaboration with MEA Malawi with funding from Sonke Gender Justice, is implementing a four-year project dubbed Sexual Reproductive Health Strategies for Universal Health Coverage in Africa SRHR4ALL from 2024 to 2027.
The advocacy efforts aim to boost young people's health and development in Mzimba North through improved sexual and reproductive care.