Communities and traditional leaders from Dedza district have acknowledged the significant efforts towards the promotion of young people’s access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) as key in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, child marriages and teen pregnancies.
The sentiments follow YONECO’s continuous engagements with community leaders and the training of various community cadres to champion young people SRHR. Community members and their leaders have observed that the interventions have led to increased uptake of the available Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS) which has in turn contributed to a reduction in SRHR problems that affect young people’s successful transition into adulthood.
Elida Mpaso, who hails from the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mpaso in the district stated that she has noted a decrease in teenage pregnancies and child marriages in her village. Elida attributes this positive change to the fact that young people are increasingly accessing information and SRH services in the various designated YFHS delivery points.
Since 2021, YONECO has been implementing several activities aimed at ensuring that communities are contributing to the fulfilment of adolescent girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights. The interventions are being conducted under Action for Teen Mothers and Adolescent Girls in the Central Region of Malawi Project which is being funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) through UNFPA.
Other partners in the project are the Malawi Government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, FPAM, FAO, Freedom from Fistula Foundation and the Malawi Girl Guides Association (MAGGA).
