Nyasulu was speaking in Mzuzu during a media training workshop on how to report on family planning issues.

She urged journalist to take family planning as a human rights and developmental issue.
“Media has a big role of educating the public on family planning so that they should take it as a human rights and developmental issue apart from a health one,” explained Nyasulu.

The Assistant Representative also said Malawi was moving in the right direction on Family planning issue but was quick to point out that the country should do even more to ensure it further reduces maternal death.

“It is pleasing to note that Malawi is doing well in reducing maternal death but we should do more by empowering on reproductive health, educating and employing the youth,” said Nyasulu.

Nyasulu, who has a back ground of Nurse Midwife, said rapid population growth retards development of a country as resources are being over stretched.

“It is hard for Malawi to achieve high demographic dividend if the country continues to have high fertility. Let us emphasize more on use of contraceptives to move forward in terms of development,” lamented Nyasulu.

She said UNFPA believes and encourages people to have ‘children by choice and not by chance’.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of health, a Representative of health Directorate in the ministry Modesta Kaswala thanked UNFPA for funding the training which she said was crucial in further fighting maternal death in the country.

She then urged the media to report more on use of contraceptives to avoid high population growth.

“The media should take into account human rights protocols when reporting family planning issues. Let people know that giving birth is voluntary,” said Kasawala.

The training workshop, which was taking place at Mzuzu Hotel, drew some Journalists from at least all media houses in the northern part of Malawi.