MALAWI: Male Championship Crucial in Safe Motherhood Initiatives – CCJP
By Luke Chimwaza
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) ,a social arm of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Blantyre ,says men championing the initiatives to promote safe motherhood in societies is ideal. This was revealed during an engagement meeting the CCJP held with male champions from Mwanza district on Thursday.
The meeting which brought together male leaders – local, political and religious, civil servants such as teachers, police and health care workers – and it was discovered that male involvement is a key in ending violence against women and children and other gender related issues.
CCJP Projects Coordinator in the Archdiocese for Blantyre Ms. Louisa Kwapata said, “This project advocates for male involvement in issues of safe motherhood because we believe that involving them will help us engage other men towards the same cause.”
On his part Safe Motherhood Coordinator for Mwanza District Mr. Chifuniro Chagwadira said regarding males promoting Safe Motherhood initiatives in societies, her district has benefited a lot as it has registered a drop in the cases. He also said CCJP’s initiatives have lowered cases of rape, teenage pregnancies among others in the district.
The Covid-19 emergency response for continuity of maternal and new-born health services project is coming in to respond to the Covid19 pandemic and recovery from its social economic impact, particularly focusing on maternal and new-born health services.
The project is being implemented in Traditional Authority Kanduku and Sub T/A Govati in Mwanza and in Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Blantyre among other areas.
Its primary beneficiaries are pregnant women and the adolescent girls but it is targeting men as partners in fighting against Covid-19 and gender-based violence (GBV) related issues.
It also targets gatekeepers which include the faith-based leaders and traditional leaders as custodians of some practices which perpetuates these GBVs.
