By Solister Mogha

Lilongwe, April 23, Mana: Nutrition, HIV and Aids Office at Zomba District Council organized an orientation for council staff to discuss HIV prevention as the district currently records 71,000 people living with HIV, while 67,000 people are on Antiretroviral (ARVs)

The District Commissioner for Zomba, Reinghard Chavula, therefore advised members of staff to consider HIV and Aids a real threat.

Chavula gave the advice on Wednesday during the HIV and Aids, Messages of Hope orientation workshop in Zomba.

She noted, “It appears many people are underrating the existence of the pandemic and rarely care about themselves. Though awareness seems to have gone down, the disease is a big threat to human life. We must keep talking about HIV and Aids even in our workplaces. For your information, the disease is still a health threat”.

Chavula therefore hailed the Nutrition, HIV and Aids sector for organizing the workshop, which she said will remind council staff of the need to abstain from behaviours that can contribute to HIV transmission on top of the need for the members of staff to disseminate the message of hope across the district.

“Please, take good care of yourselves, avoid multiple sexual relations. Those who are married should stick to one spouse only,” she added.

Chief Nutrition and HIV Officer for Zomba District Council, Maggie Chiwaula, said the workshop was meant to disseminate messages of hope to the staff and the public.

She added that abstinence is key in HIV and Aids response and called on the members of staff and the public to stay away from factors that can lead to sexually transmitted infections.