An official from Creative Centre for Community Mobilization, CRECOM Novice Columbus told Zodiak on Thursday that are currently working with courts, police and health authorities to protect girls from rape and defilement in the wake of COVID 19.

Columbus believes parents will understand the importance of being in the forefront safeguarding rights of the girl child.

"As CRECOM, we are targeting 115 schools and 115 Village development committees to impart girls of ages between 10 to 24 with messages on HIV/Aids, promoting girl child education and on the dangers of gender based violence. The legal clinics are also helping us to unearth abuses that girls are facing," said Columbus.

She added that are currently training youth friendly health services providers from public facilities in the district on how best to screen and detect gender based violence among girls and young women.

"It is our wish that this will assist more girls to receive urgent and appropriate treatment when they experience sexual assaults," she explained adding that the Adolescent Girls and Young women project is being funded by Global Fund through Action Aid.

District Coordinator for Youth Friendly Health Services Patrick Baluwa has called on adolescent girls to report any cases of sexual abuses to relevant officials for them to get timely support especially this time of COVID 19 when marauding men are deliberately abusing poor girls.

"Rape and defilement are evil acts for they cause physical injuries, trauma, sexual transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies," explained Baluwa.

Reports indicate that 28 sexual abuses have occurred in six Traditional Authorities in Chikwawa between January and June this year.

Defilement cases are reportedly rampant at Dyeratu, Nchalo, Chikwawa boma,  livunzu, Bereu and Chapananga.