NAC links HIV spread incities to ’varsities, colleges
National Aids Commission (NAC) says tertiary institutions are among the major contributing factors to the high HIV infection rate in the country’s cities.
NAC HIV prevention and management officer Francis Mabedi observed that the infection rate is high in the cities, especially Blantyre and Lilongwe due to unprotected sex involving some university and college students.
He said this yesterday during on HIV and Aids (Prevention and Management) Act media orientation in Blantyre.
NAC statistics show that new annual HIV infections stood at 1 752 in 2022 in Lilongwe City followed by Blantyre City with 1 552 infections. Zomba registered 980 while Mzuzu City had 382.
Said Mabedi: “New infections are mostly registered in the four cities and a number of districts in the southern part of Malawi.
“If you look at the characteristics of these geographical settings you will see that we also have an attribute of self-boarders who are staying on their own and care is also another issue.”
He further noted that about 22 percent of the new infections are girls aged between 15 and 24 because older men prefer sex with young girls.
On his part, NAC HIV prevention and management officer responsible for biomedical Ellious Chasukwa urged journalists to familiarise with the HIV and Aids (Prevention and Management) Act of 2018.
Among others, he said writing stories without obtaining written consent from a person living with HIV and Aids that can lead to discrimination and attracts a K5 million fine and five years imprisonment.
Section 11 of the HIV and Aids (Prevention and Management) Act stipulates that “a person who discloses the HIV status of another person otherwise than as provided for under this Act commits an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to (a) in a case of an individual, a fine of K5 000 000 and imprisonment for five years or (b) in the case of a legal person [an institution] to a fine of K10 000 000.”
In an interview later Zodiak Broadcasting Station journalist Christopher Sande commended NAC for organising such an event.
NAC estimates that 1 006 000 out of the country’s population of 21 million are living with HIV. The country targets to reduce new HIV infections from 17 700 in 2022 to about 11 000 cases next year.
