Mangochi men endangering lives of young girls
The Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH) at the College of Medicine says it is committed to improving reproductive health delivery system in Mangochi to benefit more people in the district.
CHR is working in Mangochi in different projects including educating people in reproductive health, family planning and, with funding from CORDAID of Netherlands, rehabilitates infrastructures such as dwelling units for health workers.
Programme Manager Davie Kabwira said Mangochi, which is a satellite district for the Collage of Medicine, has poor health indicators since most men are not involved in reproductive health issues.
“Men in Mangochi are on record of marrying young girls because they are not knowledgeable on reproductive health issues and do not want to take part. We are sensitizing them on the effects of early pregnancies.
“Teenage pregnancies are a major contributing factor to high maternal mortality as most of them face problems when giving birth,” he said.
Kabwira added that they are advising men in the district to take the issue seriously rather than leaving it for women only.
He said CHR is engaged in campaigns persuading men to attend antenatal clinics with their wives so that they can get the message on the need for pregnant women to go to health facilities in time, to minimize maternal mortality.
He said CHR is also orienting Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA)’s in the district to stop attending to pregnant women, but refer them to health facilities where they can be attended to by skilled health personnel.
Kabwira therefore asked people including politicians to work hand in hand with the Ministry of Health in educating people on reproductive health issues to serve lives of many women who die during pregnancy.
About 16 women are said to be dying every day in the country as a result of pregnancy and child birth related complications.
According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster survey done in 2006, maternal mortality is estimated at 807 per 100,000 live births. –Mana
Tagged with: College of Medicine, CORDAID, Davie Kabwira, Mangochi, Reproductive health
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