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- Uchembere Wabwino Maternity Hospital Launches Program to Educate Youth on Sexual Reproductive Health and Reduce Unplanned Pregnancies
Uchembere Wabwino Maternity Hospital Launches Program to Educate Youth on Sexual Reproductive Health and Reduce Unplanned Pregnancies
The program aims to reach over 10,000 young adolescents between 16 and 25 years old by the end of the year in and around Mzuzu City.
Malawi: Uchembere Wabwino Maternity Hospital in Mzuzu has launched a program called Uche Youth for Change, to educate girls and boys around the city about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) to reduce unplanned pregnancies among them, Victor Musongole.
The program aims to reach over 10,000 young adolescents between 16 and 25 years old by the end of the year in and around Mzuzu City.
The program was introduced after the hospital observed that many young people were avoiding SRH services while seeking assistance for STIs, and there was a rise in the number of early pregnancies.
Research conducted by the Village Reach Organization found that most young people, especially girls, do not have access to SRH information due to long distances to health facilities, a perceived lack of privacy, and an unwelcoming attitude from some service providers.
Alex Bulambo, the program’s facilitator, said that most of the youths that have been reached through this program have understood what happens to their bodies, and more will be reached through the program.
One of the girls, Hemmie Phiri, a Form 2 student at Chris Academy Private School in Mzuzu, said that the Uche Youth for Change program is an eye-opener for many girls as they are now able to make informed decisions when it comes to SRH and that the information will help them prevent the consequences associated with engaging in early sexual activities.
Kennedy Banda said many young people have fallen pregnant and others have contracted sexually transmitted infections due to a lack of information on preventive measures like condoms and family planning methods.
Founder and Hospital Director at Uchembere Wabwino Maternity Clinic, Dr Lucy Msukwa, said their target is to reach as many youths in Mzimba, Mzuzu, and Nkhatabay districts, but they are currently only able to operate in Mzuzu due to financial constraints.
The Uche Youth for Change program is being implemented by the Uchembere Wabwino Maternity Hospital with funding from the Segal Family Foundation.