In a significant step towards advancing health equity and human rights in Nkhotakota district, ECOSID has forged a partnership with the Nkhotakota District Health Management Team (DHMT) and District Executive Committee (DEC) to launch a transformative 24-month project: Health for All, generously funded by AmplifyChange.
The Health for All project is poised to make a profound impact by amplifying the voices and rights of the most marginalized and vulnerable women and girls in the region, with a particular focus on out-of-school adolescent girls in Traditional Authority Malengachanzi. Central to its mission is the goal of enhancing the enjoyment of health-related human rights for these marginalized populations, especially in the realm of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).
Through evidence-based interventions and targeted advocacy efforts, the project aims to tackle the root causes of gender-based inequalities, improve access to quality health services, and empower young people—particularly Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW)—to assert greater control over their lives and bodies. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and accountability, Health for All seeks to reach marginalized out-of-school adolescent girls with diverse identities, including married, mothers, single mothers, differently-abled, and survivors of Child, Early, and Forced Marriage (CEFM) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Crucially, the project will confront and transform restrictive legal, socio-cultural, religious, and political norms and structures that impede the access of vulnerable youth to quality SRH services. The enthusiastic reception from both the DHMT and DEC underscores a shared commitment to supporting initiatives that promote health equity and empowerment. Together, they pledge to champion improved provision of gender-responsive, inclusive, and accountable health services tailored to the unique needs of diverse groups of vulnerable and marginalized out-of-school AGYW.
In essence, Health for All represents a beacon of hope and opportunity, signaling a bold and collaborative effort to usher in positive change, foster health equity, and empower marginalized women and girls in Nkhotakota to lead healthier, more dignified lives.
