YONECO has expressed satisfaction over the commencement of youth friendly approach in accessing Sexual Reproductive Health Services among young people in Lilongwe District.
The remarks follow the rolling out of Connect Malawi Project which is being implemented by YONECO with the aim of improving access to adolescent youth friendly health information and services.
The Project Coordinator, Comfort Chizinga stated that YONECO has intensified community outreach activities in Kang’oma, Kauma and Area 36 in order to empower young people to access Sexual Reproductive Health Services (SRH).
“Each activity was patronized by approximately 200 adolescents, most of which accessed HIV testing, and a few accessed contraceptive services,” said Chizinga.
However, Chizinga says more needs to be done in bringing awareness on the traditional and religious beliefs which some people have surrounding young people’s access to Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS).
In his remarks, one of the peer mobilisers Mphatso Msukali from Chiuzira said the project is very key in the promotiton of young people’s health. Msukali further stated that there is need to intensify interventions that promote mindset change on sexual behavior among the youth and he described the project as one of the best interventions along those lines.
The two-and-a-half-year project, which is being implemented in partnership with One to One Children`s Fund, is targeting communities which are within the vicinity of Area 18, Bwaila and Tsabango Health Facilities under Lilongwe District Health Office.
