Ministers to meet on contraceptives policy clash
Minister of Health Jean Kalilani and Minister of Education, Science and Technology Emmanuel Fabiano are set to meet to chart the way forward on plans to introduce family planning services in schools.
The two Cabinet ministers will meet alongside education and population control experts.
Recently, government found itself in a policy clash with ministries of Education and Health taking contrasting policy positions on the contraceptive strategies in schools.
Currently, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology allows family planning service providers to provide education and information on services in schools, but prohibits the administration of the contraceptives—fearing such a move would encourage students to indulge in early sex.
But activists and health officials say the stance is counterproductive, citing alarming early pregnancy statistics.
Kalilani made the revelation this week in Neno where she presided over the opening of Neno Youth Life Centre run by Family Planning Association of Malawi (Fpam).
She said: “I am aware of the problem. I have initiated a discussion with my Cabinet colleague, my fellow Minister of Education on the matter. The end goal is the same: to prevent the girls from getting pregnant and HIV. Believe me, most of them don’t even know why they are getting pregnant.”
In her remarks, Fpam board chairperson Lilian Ng’oma said the Youth Life Centres will provide a wide range of clinical services and also undertake outreach programmes on sexual reproductive health services, HIV and Aids services and treatment of general medical ailments, among many services, throughout the district.
