YONECO has trained 30 Peer Mobilisers to reach out to young people in selected health facilities in Lilongwe with relevant information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
The training was part of a commencement of a two-and-a-half-year project, which is being implemented in partnership with One to One Children`s Fund and is targeting communities surrounding Area 18, Bwaila and Tsabango Health Facilities under the Lilongwe District Health Office.
One of the training participants, Temwa Phiri from Area 18 Youth Friendly Health Service Centre stated that the skills and information attained from the training will assist her in conveying relevant information to fellow her young people.
“I have been equipped with a lot of knowledge on Sexual Reproductive Health and this will help me to effectively communicate with my fellow young people on issues pertaining to SRHR, drug and substance abuse,” said Temwa.
Temwa added that the training has been fruitful because the information she got is also an eye opener to her as a young person.
“The information that I will share with the intended young people will reduce a number of unwanted teenage pregnancies in the community on part of girls, and that will boost productivity in the country,” added Temwa.
In her remarks, the Programme Manager for YONECO, Wezzie Mtonga Kamphale, said the training was aimed at creating an opportunity for young people to get correct and consistent SRHR information from their peers within the targeted health facilities around Lilongwe City.
“The objective of the training was to equip the peer mobilisers with skills and information on how they are going to mobilise their peers to access Sexual Reproductive Health Services and also how they can refer them to various clinics for other SRHR services,” Kamphale said.
The 30 participants have been awarded certificates of recognition and attendance having accomplished the five-day training.
According to YONECO, lack of youth friendly approach in accessing Sexual Reproductive Health Services is one of the factors which hinder young people from accessing health services in most parts of the country.
