By Chisomo Phiri
Journalists in the country have been urged to effectively report on issues of sexual reproductive health so as to increase access to information and services of the sector.
Executive Director for Health and Child Education Programme Maziko Matemba, made the plea on Thursday in Blantyre when the organization was equipping journalist with knowledge and skills to effectively report on issues of sexual reproductive health.
Matemba said it is worrisome that many women and youths in the country are falling to access sexual reproductive health services in other hospitals because of myths, misconception and lack of resources.
According to Matemba there is need for journalists to report more on these issues in order to help youth and women understand reproductive health issues, avoid child marriage and teen pregnancy.
He said, his organisation will be giving awards to journaliss that will be writing stories of sexual reproductive health as a way of encouraging them to write more stories.
In his brief remarks, President for Blantyre Press Club, Blessings Kanache commended the organisation saying the awards will motivate journalisa in the country to report more on reproductive health and services.
“The in initiative is important as it will encourage journalists to report more on sexual reproductive health issues,” said Kanache.
Currently,the Malawi Government under the leadership of President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is committed to providing comprehensive and integrated
Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRHR) services in line with the recommendations
of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt, 1994.
Malawi is also a signatory of the AU Maputo Plan of Action
which advocates for integrated SRHR Plan.
