Malawi: Girls Activists Youth organization (GAYO) hosted a three day sexual and reproductive health rights ( SRHR) community dialogue. After the event, Agnes Jalafi, Mchinji district hospital youth-friendly Co-ordinator, expressed her disappointment about the lack of sexual and reproductive health services.
She believes the problem is most apparent among the youths residing in remote areas. According to Jalafi, youths are not accessing the services because of the lack of community support. Additionally, she said that there is a shortage of trained personnel to provide the services and STI treatments.
The three day sexual and reproductive health rights ( SRHR) community dialogue was organized in the traditional authorities of Kapondo and M’duwa. It was an opportunity to highlight and discuss the various reproductive and sexual health which do not get addressed normally.
She said, this is contributing to deaths associated with early pregnancies and late treatment of Sexual Transmitted Infenction’s (STIs) among the youth.
The programs manager of the Girls Activists Youth Organization ( GAYO), Gilbert Mbwana, said the community dialogue will assist the youth in starting to access SRHR services. It will help them prioritize their health and refrain from cultural norms, religious beliefs, and digital messages that interfere with SRHR amenities.
He emphasized the need to end early marriages, teenage pregnancies and school dropouts among youths in the district by empowering community structures.
One of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Youth champions, Treeza Kubangwe, was also present at the event. As a representative of SRHR and traditional Authority Kapondo, she urged youths to start accessing contraceptive methods to avoid early pregnancies which stimulate poverty.
GAYO conducted the community dialogue in conjunction with health and youth departments through the project called Sexuality Education for Transformation (SET) under Gear Alliance. The aim of the initiative was to strengthen the capacities of community-based youth-led organizations in the use of evidence in SRH advocacy, among others.
 hosted a three day sexual and reproductive health rights ( SRHR) community dialogue.){kind=link}