As the Malawian parliament prepares to meet over budget in September, White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) has appealed for more funding.

Development Diaries learnt that the WRA said it needed more funding to tackle the problem of teenage pregnancies, which is a huge challenge in Malawi.

The organisation says it has been working with other non-governmental organisations to make sure women, both in rural and urban areas, have access to the family planning methods.

It was gathered that the organisation gets its support from AMREF Health Africa and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation among other donors.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Hester Mkwinda Nyasulu, said that WRA was initiated in 2002 with a mission to activate a people-led movement for health and reproductive sensitisation drive.

He noted that the Ministry of Health and Population proposed a budget of K250 million but was reduced to K176 million, receiving a deficit of K74 million.

‘We have engaged the parliamentary committee on health, women caucus and the budgetary committee and raised this issue up and we hope they will consider raising the family planning commodities budget.

‘We hope the committee is going to take it up in parliament to bring the budget to the original K250 million’, he said.

The organisation says it envisions a Malawi where all girls and women realise their right to quality health and well-being.

Source: Nyasa Times

Photo source: Ipinz