Youths Gain Health Knowledge Through Training
The training in August 2023 taught youths about acknowledging issues affecting them and the importance of youth-friendly health services, Kitalo said.
KARONGA, Malawi- Youths in Karonga district say training conducted by the Southern Africa AIDS Trust (SAT) Malawi has empowered them with knowledge about youth-friendly health services, writes Ellah Chirwa.
“We have seen youths coming to the district hospital helping out with sanitation issues at the same time coming to receive youth health friendly services because of the trainings,” said Chisomo Youth organization leader Davie Kitalo.
The training in August 2023 taught youths about acknowledging issues affecting them and the importance of youth-friendly health services, Kitalo said.
He thanked SAT Malawi, saying the training built confidence in youths on easily accessing better health services outside facilities.
“Many of us could easily contract sexual transmitted diseases because we did not know where to access health friendly services. In two to three years, Karonga will be one of the districts free from sexual transmitted diseases since our eyes are now open,” said Gunda Phiri, leader of Umodzi youth group.
Phiri urged SAT Malawi to conduct annual trainings in all Malawi districts to reduce sexual transmitted diseases nationwide.
District Health Office facilitators Willy Kanyika and Emmanuel Salima said they appreciated the youths’ proactive response during the two-day training six months ago.
“We are hoping for more good things from them in changing the community,” said SAT Malawi Project Officer Clifton Mulowa.
SAT Malawi conducted the training to equip volunteers with skills for community-led monitoring of health interventions.
"The training brought great transformation to Karonga youth," Phiri said.