GENET sensitizes Mpemba youth on SHR
Officials from Girls Empowerment Network (Genet) held a sensitisation meeting at Mpemba in Blantyre on Thursday to enlighten youths on the evils of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and the importance of sexual reproductive health (SRH) services.
Project Manager for Genet, Tamara Mhango, stressed the need for youths to be conversant with issues relating to child marriages, teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer and defilement so that they ably protect themselves.
“We are raising awareness on GBV and as an organisation that works with the youth especially girls, we want them to know their rights, how they can protect themselves from early pregnancies and HIV/AIDS taking into account that they are the most vulnerable,” said Mhango.
She encouraged youths to undergo tests for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
“Much as we teach our youth to abstain, the reality remains that they are doing wild things out there and it’s high time we start acting in accordance with the realities on the ground,” said Mhango.
Principal Education Adviser (PEA) for Nankumba Zone, Michael Kalulu, commended Genet for working tirelessly in grooming the youth, especially girls.
One of the participants, 14 year-old Mable Chikwete from Mpemba Primary school said the event enabled her to understand issues that affect the girl child.
The event was organised in collaboration with Impala with funding from GIZ and UNAIDS. It was part of events marking 16 days of activism this year, commemorated under the theme ‘From peace in the home to peace in the world: make education safe for all.’
