By Wellington Sibale

Neno, July 15, Mana: Young Women Rise (YOWORI) has launched Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights for All (SRHR4ALL) project in Neno District aimed at promoting easy access to sexual reproductive health services among young people.

Speaking during the Project’s presentation on Monday, YOWORI Executive Director, Mirriam Chilemba said the 12-month project aims at providing the youth access to family planning methods and other sexual reproductive health services.

“Our main objective is to educate young people, particularly on the issue of safe abortion and the project will disseminate comprehensive SRHR information and provide support for those who have undergone unsafe abortions,” she said.

Chilemba said YOWORI’s interventions in Neno target adolescent girls, young women and men aged between 10 and 24.

She said the services would be extended to any woman needing SRHR services, including post-abortion care, adding that the goal was to reach out to at least 3,000 youths with comprehensive SRH services and messages.

The Executive Director added that 40 youth leaders from all the five Traditional Authorities (TAs) in Neno, eight from each TA would serve as demand creation advocates and referral pathways for girls and women requiring post-abortion care services.

She emphasized that the project’s success largely depends on the support from stakeholders, including partners and government entities.

“We are working with other partners and the district youth network to mobilize youths to participate in this project,” Chilemba added.

She was quick to clarify that the project does not contradict with Malawi’s law, as it focuses on supporting those who have had unsafe abortions rather than promoting abortions.

“It is not in conflict with the law because we are not promoting abortions; we aim at supporting those who have had unsafe abortions to decrease deaths caused by unsafe procedures,” she said.

District Youth Officer (DYO) for Neno, Ian Sukali said the project would help the youth become aware of the SRH services available in health facilities.

“The project will promote SRHR for the youth, raising awareness about the available services in health facilities, which will help reduce pre-marital pregnancies and post-abortion related cases,” he said.

Neno Police Child Protection Officer, Austin Kamwendo said providing the youth with sporting activities, entrepreneurial and vocational skills and access to family planning methods was essential in protecting girls from unwanted pregnancies that may lead to unsafe abortions.

In 2021, Parliament withdrew an Abortion Bill from the Order Paper following opposition to the proposal to liberalize the country’s laws, which only allow abortions when the mother’s life is at risk.