HIV, GBV cases rise in Mulanje

The Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare says it is alarmed with the increase in cases of gender-based violence (GBV) as well as HIV and Aids in Mulanje.

“This year alone, Mulanje has recorded 232 cases of GBV and the prevalence of HIV and Aids is the highest at 20.6 percent, almost triple that of the country, which is at 8.8 percent,” said the ministry’s deputy director of nutrition, HIV and Aids Charles Mazinga recently.

Mazinga-who was speaking during a recent workshop on harmful cultural practices and youth vulnerability to GBV as well as HIV and Aids in the district-said reports show that women and children are the most vulnerable.

“This is why we came here to learn from stakeholders why the situation is this bad so that we can come up with good interventions in terms of programming to curb the problem,” he said.

The workshop was organised in collaboration with UN Women and brought together youths, community members, heads of government departments, traditional and religious leaders.

Mulanje District Commissioner Charles Makanga attributed the district’s situation to poverty and harmful cultural practices.

He said a lot of women are economically dependent on men, which makes it easy for the latter to take advantage of the former.

“You will find a lot of women engaging in sexual trade just to meet the cost of living. Another issue is early marriage. Young girls get married to older men for financial support.

He said the council has plans in its recently approved District Development Plan  for addressing GBV,  HIV and Aids.