Cross-section of adolescent girls who attended the meeting
As one way of improving access to Sexual Reproductive Health among adolescent girls and young women in Chiradzulu and Zomba districts in Malawi, the Centre for Social Concern and Development (CESOCODE) conducted Adolescent girls and young women SRH friendly meetings. The meetings were aimed at discussing different SRH issues affecting adolescent girls and young women about Youth Friendly Health Services, finding possible solutions to the challenges and strategizing on how they can deal with those challenges, and identifying and engaging possible stakeholders like pharmacists and community-based health workers who could help solve the challenges. The meetings were also aimed at strengthening and raising the capacity of adolescent girls and young women accessing SRH services at Chiradzulu and Zomba Health Centres.
During the meetings, girls and young women shared with the gathering the different activities they are undertaking to help fellow adolescent girls and young women understand Sexual Reproductive Health issues in their communities. Some girls and young women reported using drama, forum theatre, songs, poems, and sports as strategies for disseminating information to their peers.
Pharmacists and Community Based Health workers have a role and a responsibility to play to promote Youth Friendly Health Services and make sure that adolescent girls and young women have access to the right knowledge and services in terms of Sexual Reproductive Health; There is a need to intensify activities aimed at educating adolescent girls and young women in Zomba and Chiradzulu districts with information on SRH issues, and adolescent girls Young women from different groups should encourage their peers to go to the health facilities every time they have Sexual Reproductive health issues but also to access Youth Friendly Health Services.
CESOCODE is conducting a six-month project in Chiradzulu and Zomba districts with financial support from MAMA Network to promote access to SRH services among adolescent girls and young women.
