By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, Mana: Nsanje District Hospital Family Planning Coordinator, Lefnat Maudzu has expressed concern over some myths that are promoting low uptake of family planning services among the youth in the district.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday, Maudzu said a lot of young people believe that they will have difficulties to conceive once they start using family planning methods.
“The development has contributed to low uptake of family planning methods especially emergency pills in public health centres in the district,” Maudzu said.
Maudzu, therefore, dispelled the misinformation, saying it is not true that once they start using family planning methods they will find it hard to conceive, adding: “Contraceptives stop working immediately you have stopped using them.”
Maudzu said some young people in the district fail to access health services at nearby health centres for fear of being reported to their parents or friends by health personnel.
However, Maudzu was quick to point out that the District Health Office has embarked on sensitization campaigns to clear the myths surrounding family planning services in the district as one way of encouraging the youth.
Maudzu also pointed out that the youth should not be shy to access health services at public facilities in the district as most of the health centres have a component of youth friendly health services.
“We want to reach out to more youths in the district so that we should not continue having early and unexpected pregnancies,” he added.
Speaking in a separate interview with Mana, Nsanje District Youth Network Chairperson, James Sande concurred with Maudzu, saying the youth have been reluctant in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.
“We have been working with youth clubs and other stakeholders including people from the health sector to sensitize the youth on the importance of sexual and reproductive health services,” he said.
Sande said the youth network would continue with mobilization to encourage more youths to adopt modern family planning methods which has potential of reducing unexpected pregnancies.