Initiation counsellors drilled in SRH rights
Initiation counsellors from six traditional authorities (T/As) of Lundu, Chigaru, Kuntaja, Kunthembwe, Makata and Machinjiri in Blantyre on Thursday concluded a 10-day training in sexual and reproduction health rights (SRHR) to promote safe motherhood.
The counsellors were drawn from religious and cultural groupings and youth clubs, among others.
A gulewamkulu counsellor from T/A Kunthembwe, Bernard Kapanda, applauded Nzatonse programme, which is implemented by Blantyre Synod Health and Development Commission with funding from KfW of Germany.
“In the past, we have been segregated from gaining such knowledge. We are all human beings and we need not be segregated,” he said.
“We have benefited a lot from the training and we will join hands and share cultural experiences. Our aim is for gulewamkulu to provide teachings to the young ones on how they should behave and encourage them to go to school.”
Nzatonse programmes coordinator Pastor Samson Namanya said participants agreed to start implementing what they learnt, especially on dangers of shunning safe motherhood messages.
“We have agreed to let the trained counsellors start implementing what they learnt and we will be monitoring them according to the planned schedules,” he said.
Namanya said the project aims at reaching the youthful generation with SRHR messages and eliminating harmful cultural practices as well as early marriages. n
