NAC Board Chairperson, Jones Chikoko Chikoko Nkhoma, says there is a need for proper measures to contain the situation.

He said this on the sidelines of this year’s International Aids Candle Light Memorial Commemoration in Blantyre on Thursday.

“Blantyre district has 29 higher learning institutions and most of them are non-residential,” he said.

Nkhoma said the development forces many girls to patronize night clubs for their daily bread, exposing them to the deadly HIV.

“Most of these girls patronize places like Kamba, Kameza roundabout, Kachere, Lunzu, Chirimba among other places for night activities to meet their school needs,” complained Nkhoma.

Representative for Blantyre Mayor, Councilor Getrude Chirambo, admitted the challenge, saying the city has several interventions to address the vice.

“As a city, we have launched the Fast Track Cities Initiative where we want to engage communities directly in the fight against the pandemic,” Chirambo said. 

She said it is a great worry that the adolescent girls and women are the most vulnerable groups in issues of HIV/AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS Prevalence rate for Blantyre is at 17.7% against national rate which is at 8.8%.

(By Esther Nyanja)