By Sarah Mlozoa

Youth in the country have been urged to utilize modern contraceptive methods in a bid to prevent teen pregnancies and child marriages which are on the rise in the country.

Minister of youth, sports and culture Francis Phiso made the call during the National Youth conference pre-symposium on population and development which was held at Bingu International Convention Center in Lilongwe ahead of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

The minister also said youth in Malawi has an active role to play in controlling the increase in the country’s population.

“Government is doing interventions that are put to promote the youth in the country like the government internship program which corporates youth who have finished their tertiary education to do internship in different government sectors.”

On her part National Youth Council chairperson Hellen Boloma said as a council they are committed to make interventions on supporting youth in the country.

She further added that the conference will give room to the youth to discuss on the issues that they are facing in their communities.

This year’s national youth conference symposium on population and development is been deliberated on the theme of the role of the youth in Accelerating Malawi’s promise.