The National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) has stressed the importance of building youth capacity in leadership and governance to help champion health initiatives among young people.

Speaking on Friday during a performance review meeting on youth health in Chikwawa District, NYCOM Programs Officer Ashan Cossam highlighted the need for stronger youth representation.

The meeting followed the release of the 2024 Demographic Survey, which revealed that Chikwawa has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the country at 42.1%.

“While youth are involved in decision-making processes at various levels, the quality of their representation remains inadequate due to existing capacity gaps,” Cossam noted.

Josen Tembo, Director of Planning and Development for Chikwawa District, acknowledged the district’s poor performance in reducing teenage pregnancies and improving youth nutrition.

He pledged to prioritize youth-centered strategies to enhance health outcomes.

The meeting convened key stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Youth and Health and the National AIDS Commission.

Participants identified gaps contributing to weak performance in sexual and reproductive health and nutrition among young people. An action plan was developed to address these challenges across sectors.