FPAM drills Nkhotakota youths on sexual and reproductive health rights

Malawi: The Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) has drilled youths from the Traditional Authority (T/A) Kanyenda in Nkhotakota about their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).

Mtisunge Chiwanda, one of the facilitators and the Nkhotakota District Hospital Post-abortal Care Coordinator, stated during a two-day orientation that many youths lack information about Sexual and Reproductive Health, hence the training.

"This training is very important because it has empowered youths in Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights; many youths had no information about Sexual and Reproductive Health, where they can get help, but they have been impacted with information on how they can be helped through this training,” said Chiwanda.

She stated that abortion among the youths in Nkhotakota is a major problem because every month we see young people coming to the hospital with many complications of abortion, such as severe bleeding, some of them losing a lot of blood and having to be transfused, some of them having to undergo surgeries, and some of them dying.

Dominic Gama of the Luntha Youth Club stated that the training provided them with the knowledge that their fellow youths would benefit from as well.

"Before this training, I was unaware of my sexual and reproductive health rights, and I didn't even take them seriously. Many youths in our area have dropped out of school due to pregnancy, but thanks to the training provided by FPAM, I will be an agent of change among the youths in my community, teaching them that everyone has the right to seek medical help, such as contraception and counselling," Gama said.

In agreement with Gama, Hilda Msukwa of Tenganimbali youth club stated that she will use the knowledge she has gained to teach her fellow youths that they have the right to seek medical help if they have pregnancy complications.

"This training is timely, especially for our youths; prior to this training, I was unaware that we have the right to seek post-abortal help; however, our facilitators have provided us with information that will assist our fellow youths who are suffering from post-abortal complications; others are even dying from it." "I urge FPAM to continue with these training because they will help to bridge the existing gap on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights," Msukwa said.

FPAM is implementing a project on Sexual and Reproductive Health in two Traditional Authorities (T/A) in Nkhotakota District, Kanyenda and Malengachanzi.