Capacity affecting Aids fight along Lake Chilwa
Youth for Positive Change (Yopoc) executive director Roseby Chiweza says capacity constraints in HIV and Aids management are frustrating efforts to fight the spread of the virus among fishers along Lake Chilwa in Zomba.
She said this in the district on Sunday when her organisation established anti-Aids groups targeting young fishers and sex workers surrounding the lake.
“Yopoc has, therefore, taken upon itself to impart knowledge on how they can refrain from the spread of the virus,” said Chiweza.
One of the fishers, Gift Makochera, admitted that lack of relevant HIV and Aids information and resources to counter the virus are major challenges faced in the fight against the epidemic.
He said communities rely on electronic and print media as many organisations involved in HIV and Aids activities shun the area because it is difficult to reach.
“The challenge is that we fail to ask questions from reliable sources on matters we don’t understand on radio, television and in newspapers, a development that fuels ignorance of the pandemic and subsequent deaths among the youthful fishermen and girls,” he said.
A youth from the area, Zione Munyowa, said long distances to health facilities is another setback in the fight against the virus that causes Aids. n
