In a joint effort to strengthen awareness and advocacy for sexual and reproductive health rights, the Vital Rights Foundation, a partnership with the Nyale Institute, held a legal clinic last week at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital’s One-Stop Center.
The event, facilitated by the Vital Rights Foundation, provided important legal education to health professionals about reproductive health rights and their legal obligations.
During the clinic, Dr. Godfrey Kangaude, Executive Director of the Nyale Institute, gave an insightful presentation on the Gender Equality Act, the legal basis for Section 19’s sexual and reproductive health rights, highlighting the importance of these rights.
“We supported this programme on sexual and reproductive justice by explaining the legal basis for reproductive rights. It is essential to understand that Malawi has a legal framework to protect these rights.
Kangaude highlighted the government’s obligation to provide essential reproductive health services, including access to birth control pills, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and medical interventions when pregnancy poses health risks to pregnant girls or women.
“The responsibility of providers under Section 20 of the Gender Equality Act highlights our obligation to provide services without discrimination and to ensure that patients receive all the information they need to make informed choices.”
“As legal practitioners, we work with healthcare providers to ensure that reproductive health rights are supported. By promoting collaboration, we can bridge the gap between the legal and health sectors and provide optimal service,” Kangardo said.
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Reflecting similar sentiments, Molly Nkosi, executive director of the Vital Rights Foundation, highlighted the importance of clinics in educating both healthcare providers and the public regarding reproductive rights.
“Many healthcare providers and patients are not fully aware of their rights that could lead to inadequate or denied services. The legal clinic aims to bridge that knowledge gap by ensuring that providers understand their obligations and that patients know their qualifications.”
“Understanding legal provisions within frameworks like the Gender Equality Act will enable healthcare professionals to provide more comprehensive and legally sound reproductive health services,” Nkosi said.
Bridget Mushusa Senior Nursing Officer at Elizabeth Central Queen Central Hospital recognized its role in empowering healthcare professionals and expressed his gratitude to the clinic.
“Legal support is important in our work. We ensure that we understand responsibility and operate within legal parameters. The clinic provides valuable insight into patient rights and obligations as a healthcare provider. Furthermore, the continuation of such initiatives is necessary, and further strengthening knowledge and compliance within the healthcare sector.
The legal clinic served as an important step in strengthening legal literacy among healthcare providers, ensuring they had the knowledge necessary to maintain their reproductive health rights.
