National Aids Commission (NAC) has advised students at Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas) in Blantyre to lead a vibrant push to demystify myths surrounding condom use.
The current HIV prevalence rate for Blantyre City stands at 14 percent, double the national average.
Speaking on Sunday during the International Condom Day at Mubas campus in Blantyre, NAC head of HIV prevention and management Dr. Andrina Mwansambo said many young people still face embarrassment or stigma when accessing reproductive health products.
“The days are gone when young people should be ashamed of buying condoms. Let us take responsibility for our health to curb HIV transmission rates.’ she said.
Mwansambo said targeting higher education institutions was a deliberate move to reach out to sexually active young adults, thereby curbing HIV transmission.
Blantyre district director of health services Dr. Gift Kawalazira said with the current HIV prevalence rate, the city’s residents are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, urging Mubas students to safeguard their future by taking available HIV preventive measures.
“By using a condom, one can prevent HIV while simultaneously protecting against other sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies,” he said.
Mubas student, Chikondi Nyendo, hailed NAC and the Ministry of Health for empowering the youth with knowledge on consistent condom use, saying this will enable students and other young people to make informed decisions that will reduce high HIV transmission rate in Blantyre City.
While International Condom Day is globally observed on February 13, NAC commemorated the day on March 14 to strategically engage the student population.
