YONECO has trained its newly recruited Community Ambassadors at Mponela in Dowa district.
The training was conducted under Project 393 Youth Helpline which aims at engaging the youth on HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) issues.
The project which is being implemented in three Countries namely; Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana is set to reach out to young people who are within the age range of 10 and 24 with relevant and consistent information about SRHR including HIV and adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART).
In his remarks, the Executive Director of YONECO, MacBain Mkandawire, said with the coming in of various emerging issues due to COVID-19, young people are at an even higher risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The training was facilitated by Youth Advocates, an organization which is based in Zimbabwe.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Youth Advocates, Tatenda Songole, said that the problem of HIV among adolescent boys and girls is still a challenge in Southern Africa hence the need to bring more innovative interventions to deal with the problem.
“In this pilot phase, the 393 Youth Helpline Project is currently targeting young people within Zomba district for one year and thereafter, it will be scaled up to the whole country.
Young people will be able to access SRHR and HIV services at their convenience using 393 toll-free line which is operational in all the targeted three countries” explained the Executive Director of Youth Advocates – Tatenda Songole.
