ANA ASUKULU ACHOSA KALE MIMBA 350 MIYEZI YOKHAYI KU MACHINGA?

Kodi awa sangadikile alowe kaye m’banja? Imagine akuti Machinga District has recorded over 350 cases of unsafe abortions between January and April this year, with the youngest case involving a 15-year-old girl. This alarming statistic was revealed by Jacqueline Kaminyu, Post-Abortion Care Coordinator at Machinga District Hospital, during a Multistakeholder Movement on Women and Girls meeting. The gathering was organized by the Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE), a member of the Malawi SRHR Alliance. Kaminyu noted that Nyambi Health Centre topped the list of affected facilities with 40 cases, while Machinga District Hospital alone registered 231. She attributed the rising numbers to limited access and low uptake of family planning services among adolescents and women of reproductive age.

Traditional Authority Sale described the figures as deeply concerning and called for urgent improvements in reproductive health services, education, and community-based support for women and girls. He also stressed the need to address cultural practices that hinder access to contraception and reproductive rights. Furthermore, he advocated for safe abortion services as a necessary step in reducing unsafe procedures, adding that local leaders will take a proactive role in community sensitization to combat harmful cultural beliefs and misinformation.

Meanwhile, Isaac Salimu, CYECE’s district coordinator, emphasized the organization’s ongoing efforts under the “Access to Safe Abortion Advocacy” project, funded by Amplify Change. The initiative aims to build the capacity of young people, traditional leaders, and faith-based representatives to ensure communities are better informed about reproductive health. As unsafe abortion continues to threaten the lives and futures of many young girls and women in Machinga, stakeholders are urging for a united front to push for policy reform, education, and accessible health services.