The Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) recently took the opportunity of using Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Zokonda Amayi annual event that was held in Lilongwe to provide participants of the event with modern contraceptives and other Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services.
FPAM with funding support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) implements interventions in Malawi with the aim of intensifying access to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), Gender Based Violence (GBV) including HIV and AIDS information and services targeting adolescent girls, young people, and key populations.
FPAM’s Director of programs Tazirwa Chipeta said the event had women from all works of life who are mostly busy to go to a health facility for SRHR services.
She said: “With support from the UNFPA we partnered with MBC through the Zokonda Amayi programme to provide SRHR services to the women who might need them during this year’s meeting.
“Most Zokonda Amayi participants are business women who rarely find time to seek SRHR services and this platform has helped them to easily access the services. When they go back home they will inform others with accurate information on various services.”
She commended the women for positively taking part in the engagement and having the hunger of accessing the services.
Chairperson for the 2021 Zokonda Amayi macheza organising committee Mervis Senga said some of the services provided to the women including cervical cancer screening, will help them to live healthy lives.
She said: “Cervical cancer keeps killing women in our country and having the opportunity to do screening here is what many women needed. I believe from today onwards, these women will live healthy lives as they have had the chance to know their status.”
One of the participants Likisina Katumbi from Mangochi district applauded FPAM for giving the women the opportunity to learn more on SRHR services.
She said: “I have been reluctant to go for cervical cancer screening because I was afraid. But today, I have managed to do so because the medical personnel have enlightened me on what I needed to know. My plea is for my fellow women to do the same.” She said.
The women were freely provided with SRH services including HIV testing, cervical cancer screening and access to modern contraceptives and counselling.
According to FPAM’s Lilongwe District Manager Chipiliro Chiponda, during the event 34 women were screened for cervical cancer, six were screened for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and four women received modern methods of contraception.
According to Chiponda, all the 34 women that were screened for cervical cancer, their results turned out negative.
During the event, FPAM also engaged an artist Atoti Manje who spiced up the event. In the evening, the women had dinner at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) where the artist also performed. FPAM’s Board chairperson Pamela Kazombo led a delegation of the organizations’ women that graced the occasion.