UNFPA Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Ms. Lydia Zigomo, has issued a bold challenge to Malawi's youth leaders and activists: revolutionize access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.
At a roundtable meeting held at the UNFPA Malawi office in the capital Lilongwe, Ms. Zigomo urged the young leaders to unleash their creativity and innovation to dismantle the barriers preventing their peers from accessing vital SRH services.
She emphasized the urgent need for transformative strategies to make SRH services accessible, youth-friendly, inclusive, and safe for young people.
Your generation has the power to change the landscape of sexual and reproductive health and to break barriers that prohibits young people to discuss issues that affects their lives
"We need your ingenuity, your voices, and your determination to ensure that no young person is left behind," Ms. Zigomo said.
According to the latest data, young people constitute a significant portion of Malawi's population. Specifically, 51 percent of the population is under the age of 18. This demographic trend indicates a youthful population, with a substantial number of children and adolescents.
Although they constitute the majority, young people in Malawi lament the lack of platforms to express their ideas and influence policy. And the roundtable was one way to hear from the youth leaders on how UNFPA can improve its programming to effectively reach young people with SRHR information and services.
The youth leaders brainstormed and discussed bold new approaches, signaling a renewed commitment to overcoming the challenges that have long hindered youth access to essential SRH services.
Tapiwa Penama, representing Lilongwe-based youth organization Tilitonse, hailed the meeting with the Regional Director, highlighting that it has energized her and her peers to do more.
Tilitonse is currently piloting a one-stop centre for gender-based violence which they hope to upscale over the cause of the year.
“This meeting came at the right time because I have learnt a lot from the interaction with my fellow youth leaders. We need more of these dialogues,” she said.
Penama agreed with Ms. Zigomo that there is a huge knowledge gap in the SRH space in Malawi, which has led to low intake of related services.
“I think its mainly an issue of awareness; a lot of youths are not aware of SRH services so we need a lot of campaigns around that because that knowledge gap has to be filled,” she said.
On his part, Youth Wave’s Godfrey Malongo noted the lack of capacity among youth leaders which hinders their participation in matters of national interest.
“There are times when we have been invited to meetings but have contributed nothing because we don’t have the capacity to represent at that level,” he said.
In Malawi, UNFPA engages with young people through various initiatives aimed at improving their sexual and reproductive health, ensuring their rights, and enhancing their potential. These efforts include supporting the development and implementation of youth-focused policies based on reliable data and the promotion of comprehensive sexuality education to help young people make informed decisions about their health.
Additionally, UNFPA encourages youth leadership and participation in decision-making processes, empowering young people to contribute to community development and advocate for their rights.
