BLM offers free family planning services
Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) will today provide free family planning services in all its 31 clinics nationwide to commemorate this year’s World Population Day.
In a press statement made available to The Nation, the free BLM services come as an additional initiative to an already existing programme which offers free family planning services to people below the age of 24.
Reads the statement in part: “With tens of thousands of young women and girls dying every single year due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth globally, here at Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) we are joining the global community in highlighting the need to increase access to Sexual and Reproductive Health services.”
BLM country director Nicky Mathews said in an interview many married women in the country are eager to access contraceptives, but they fail to do so, hence the free services.
“According to World Bank statistics, 26 percent of married women aged 15-49 in Malawi want to use contraception, but can’t access it. BLM wants to reach these women and help keep them safe and free from unwanted pregnancies,” Mathews said.
The day, which falls on July 11, was set aside by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness on global population issues.
