Girls Activist Youth Organisation (GAYO), in partnership with Her Liberty Organization, has intensified efforts to raise awareness among young people in Zomba District about the risks associated with unsafe abortion and the importance of accessing youth-friendly reproductive health services.

The engagement was conducted during a sports-based community event held at Matandani Primary School, located in the area of Senior Chief Malemia. The event brought together young people from surrounding communities, using sports as an interactive platform to discuss reproductive health, unintended pregnancies, and available health services.

This activity forms part of the project titled “Enhancing the Reproductive Health Outcomes for Women and Girls,” which is being implemented by Her Liberty in collaboration with GAYO with financial support from Amplify Change.

Speaking during the event, Her Liberty Programmes Manager Kettie Mikwala expressed concern over the growing number of young girls seeking medical attention after experiencing complications related to miscarriages and unsafe abortion practices.

According to Mikwala, hospital data indicates that many girls are arriving at health facilities in need of post-abortion care after attempting to terminate pregnancies through unsafe methods, which significantly endangers their lives.

She explained that the rise in unintended pregnancies among adolescents prompted Her Liberty and GAYO to directly engage young people in communities under Senior Chief Malemia. The goal is to ensure that young people know where they can access contraceptive services, youth-friendly health services, and professional support when faced with reproductive health challenges.

“To strengthen community awareness and peer support, we recently trained 34 young people and 6 health workers who are now helping to spread messages about the dangers of unsafe abortion and guiding others on where they can seek proper care and assistance,” said Mikwala.

She added that by the end of the project, the organizations hope to see more young people who are well informed about their reproductive health rights and who understand the importance of seeking safe and professional health services.

“We want young people to become champions of change in their communities by spreading awareness about the dangers of unsafe abortion and encouraging their peers to access the right services,” she said.

Also speaking at the event was Hellen Truwah, a nurse and midwife from the Zomba District Health Office, who commended Her Liberty and GAYO for their continued support in promoting adolescent reproductive health.

She noted that the initiative is helping young people around Machinjiri Health Centre access accurate information and services that help prevent unintended pregnancies and protect their health.

Through partnerships, community engagement, and youth-led advocacy, GAYO and Her Liberty remain committed to empowering young people with knowledge and ensuring that women and girls have access to safe, reliable reproductive health information and services.