Bwalo Interlocutors which include the youth conducted an engagement meeting with the District Youth Technical Working Group (DYTWG) in Zomba. The DYTWG which is composed of the District Youth Officer (DYO), District Social Welfare Officer (DSO), District Community Development Officer (DCDO), District Education Manager (DEM), District Agriculture Development Officer (DADO), Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Police Service, microfinance institutions and  District Sports Officer.

The Bwalo forum discussions focussed on youth social and economic empowerment; youth participation, leadership and volunteerism including internship; capacity development of the youth; youth non formal education including adult literacy, numeracy; youth health and nutrition including sexual reproductive health and HIV and AIDS; and youth guidance, counselling and life skills. During the meeting evidence was shared on the increased number of deaths by young people which worried the DYTWG.

Institutions such as Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) and Family Planning Association Of Malawi (FPAM); and the Youth Friendly Health Service Coordinator who were in attendance, expressed gratitude towards the use of evidence to provision of family planning services in the district to combat teen pregnancies and promote health seeking behaviour amongst the youth.

‘We are more than ready to work hand in hand with the District Health Office on provision of Family planning services based on evidence in the communities. We are ready to engage the youth and work with then in areas of family planning. It is our major objective to target the youth on Family planning, and as partners we should join hands to make sure youths are able to speak for themselves on safe motherhood issues,’ Said the Zomba District BLM manager Gift Radge.

The Youth Friendly Health Service Coordinator  Mirriam Goliat mentioned some challenges that are faced in the district on Family Planning access by the youth some of which are inactiveness of YFHS in the district and lack evidence on family planning.

With the alarming figures of young women deaths and low percentage of women accessing long lasting family planning methods, the DYTWG, Youth Friendly Health Service Coordinator, Institutions such as BLM and FPAM, and Bwalo Interlocutors concluded to work together in youth development activities, and meet regularly to link youth activities in the district.

Zomba Bwalo forum with DYTWG

The youth were given a task to mobilise themselves and come up with activities that will promote youth involvement in development of the district and also specifically discuss on family planning activities with the available evidence in various communities. All the activities to be presented to the DYTWG and other partners for support.