NGO moves to empower youths with mobile clinic

Pamoza Tingakwaniska Youth Organization in Karonga has launched outreach clinics with the aim of scaling up family planning and HIV testing among the youths in the district.

Speaking in an interview following the launch at Thunduti Primary School ground in Senior Traditional Authority Wasambo Programs Manager for Pamoza Gomezani Mhango, said the aim of establishing outreach clinics was to bring Sexual Reproductive Health Services (SRHS) closer to the communities.

Adding the initiative which is under the Wanangwawane project aims at equipping youths with information on SRHS and dispelling myths and misconception of family planning methods and HIV and AIDS testing in the communities.

“What we hope to achieve is to see youths and communities start embracing family planning services and HIV testing and not see it as a taboo to go for this services as it is important to the health of communities,” Mhango said.

She has since called upon traditional leaders to take a leading role in encouraging youths to seek SRHS information in the clinics as a way of reducing teen pregnancies and sexual transmitted infections and diseases in Karonga.

On his part Harry Mhango a representative of STA Wasambo, said the outreach program is a welcome development for the youths of Wasambo saying the clinics are a significant step in as far as the fight against teen pregnancies and HIV is concerned in the area.

“The coming in of these outreach clinics is a game changer for the communities as these services will now be offered up at their door step meaning that the people will now be equipped with SRHS information hence making informed decision on their sexual reproductive rights,” he explained.

John Gondwe Chairperson for Thunduti Youth Empowerment Club, said the coming in of the mobile clinics will ease mobility challenges as they will no longer be required to travel to about 11 kilometers to access such services which was a hindrance to the youths.

Pamoza Tingakwaniska is implementing an 18 month Wanawangwa wane project in Traditional Authority Wasambo in Karonga and Mwenewenya in Chitipa with funding from Breuckmann Foundation and the German government’s federal ministry for economic cooperation and development.