Machinga DHO decries low family planning uptake

Machinga district assistant youth friendly health services coordinator Kenneth Mkandawiresays sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and early pregnancies among youths are high due to low uptake of family planning methods.

He said this on Monday during a Family Planning Association of Malawi(Fpam) awareness campaign meeting at group village head Mangambain Senior Chief Liwonde.

Mkandawire said 14 in every 100 cases in the district’s health facilities are STI cases. He said the figure is likely to double if private health facility figures are added.

He said: “In terms of teenage pregnancies, they comprise about 43 percent of pregnancies in the district.

“From January to August this year, the number of teenage pregnancies has reached 2 203.”

He said Senior Chief Liwonde’s area has low youth uptake of  family planning services.

“Our records show that between January and August this year, only 55 youths are accessing family planning methods in our three heath facilities in the area,”said Mkandawire.

He also expressed concern over 14 percent HIV prevalent rate among the youth in the district.

However, he commended Fpam for encouraging the youth to access family planning services.

Fpam executive director Donald Makwakwa said he was pleased  that some youths were accessing family planning services through their Yes I Do Project.

“Although the project has come to an end, we are pleased to learn that more youths will continue seeking family planning services,” he said.

Group village head Mangamba commended Fpam for encouraging the youth to go for family planning services.