By Emmanuel Moyo
Youth clubs in Karonga District have commended Pamoza Tingakwaniska Organization for conducting a training on sexual and reproductive health rights, describing it as an eye opener in the fight against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies.
This came to light on Friday when the organisation through its project dubbed ‘Fiska Ulato’ engaged leadership of youth clubs at Baka Residential Training Centre in the District to train them on sexual and reproductive health rights.
In an interview, Vice Chairperson for Ngala Youth Club, Milliam Mkandawire, described the training as significant to youths as it has enlightened them on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“This training has been of great significance to us because it has enlightened us on sexual and reproductive health rights of which we will impart to our colleagues in our communities, Ngala is a busy place with many activities, so we will be able to protect ourselves from STIs as well as unwanted pregnancies,” she said.
She added that as leaders, they will make sure that they teach the youths in their clubs also to teach others the knowledge pertaining to sexual and reproductive health.
Echoing Mkwandawire, Vice Chairperson for Better Vision Youth Club at Nyungwe, James Nyirongo, said the training has cleared knowledge gap that existed amongst youths.
“We are very thankful for this training because it has bridged the gap on issues around sexual and reproductive health rights amongst us the youth, and we will now be the light to other youths in different clubs we have represented here today,” Nyirongo said.
On his part, Youth Friendly Health Services Coordinator for Karonga District Hospital, Davis Chelewani, who facilitated the training, said as leaders of youth clubs, they ought to have more knowledge on sexual and reproductive health rights, hence the training.
“As youth club leaders, they need to have the knowledge so this training was important to them, so as leaders they need to lead their subjects according to sexual and reproductive health rights and this will health them today and in the future,” he said.
On her part, Project Officer for the organisation, Gomezgani Mhango, said the organisation aims at equipping youths on how best to take part in sexual and reproductive health rights realising misconceptions about contraceptives in the communities.
“We want to train youths through their leaders in the District on how best they can take part in this matter because we have so many misconceptions about contraceptive methods amongst the youths, so these leaders are key people that teach other youths in communities,” she said.
She has since pointed out that the organisation expects to see leaders who are able act as role models in their communities and lead vibrant youth club activities pertaining to sexual and reproductive health rights issues in their communities.
The training brought together leadership of from six Youth Clubs, three from each Traditional Authority in Karonga.
Pamoza Tingakwaniska Organisation is implementing Fiska Ulato project with funding from Bruekmann Foundation from Germany.
