Balaka chiefs join hands against early marriages: Safemotherhood
Traditional leaders from sub traditional authority Chanthunga in Malawi’s eastern district of Balaka says are strictly enforcing by laws that seeks to safeguard the rights of the girl child.
In this regard, the chiefs say they have agreed to ban early marriages among girls and are making sure parents and guardians are keeping their girl children in school.
“We are strictly following these by laws here because we are tired of our women dying from diseases that occur at child birth,” said village headman Zimveka.
Zimveka was among 8o chiefs who attended a training session on Safemotherhood which Senior Chief Kwataine organized on Monday at Kankao Technical Development Centre.
During the training the chiefs were drilled on Safemotherhood, HIV and AIDS, nutrition for pregnant mothers, complications during pregnancy and the importance of giving birth in the hospitals by trained professionals.
Senior Chief Kwataine said he is impressed with the committees that have been formed in the area which are working to disseminate information on Safemotherhood to the grassroots.
Zimveka said he hopes that the initiative will help build a woman’s shelter in the area “so that our women who stay away from hospital can be waiting before to delivery as a measure to counter transport challenges.”
