Health expert have disclosed that increasing use of contraceptive method would see Malawi avoiding 16 million deaths by 2020.

At the moment, the current contraceptives prevalence rate is at 32 percent, and campaigners are hoping to increase the rate to 60 percent.

According to current growth rate projections, the country would have 38 million people by the year 2020 if nothing is done to control the situation.

Project Manager for respond project in the United States International Development agency (USAID), Siti Kachingwe says this poses a great risk as it puts a strain on government resources.

She made the remarks in Lilongwe at a workshop aimed at strengthening journalists understanding cost savings and benefits of family planning.

Kachingwe said there is need to intensify long term use of contraceptives, which can significantly reduce population growth.

The workshop was organized by the Population Reference Bureau with funding from USAID.