MZIMBA-(MaraviPost)-Since the outbreak of Covid-19 and subsequent closure of schools in the country in March this year, gender based violence and child marriages in Mzimba District have raised alarmingly.
According Mzimba District Gender Officer, Japheth Chirwa, there has been an increase in gender based violence and child marriages in the district; rising from 38 to 56 and from 41 to 59 percent, respectively.
Chirwa made the remarks on Saturday at Mzimba District Hospital during a handover ceremony of Covid-19 response equipment and bicycles to Mbelwa District Council worth 68 million donated by Save the Children Organisation.
“There has been an increase in gender based violence cases because of specifically the measures that have been put in place. For example, the closure of schools has affected children.
“So, most of the children are now engaging in child marriages because they have nothing to do and some of them are engaging in premarital sex and even when you talk of issues of domestic violence, because children are now full time at home, there are a lot of issues that are happening at home and this is disturbing. So, we are really concerned as a department that Covid-19 has increased the rate of gender based violence,” Chirwa said.
Chirwa also said the figures are very high despite sensitisation campaigns by victim support unit in the community.
Echoing similar sentiments, Save the Children Director of operations, Frank Mwafulirwa, said children are at the risk of falling prey for immoral behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic hence the need to sensitise the responsible authorities and equipping them with Covid-19 response materials.
While acknowledging Save the Children for the gesture, Mbelwa District Council Director of health and social services, Dr Lumbani Munthali, said the equipment will go a long way in helping medical personnel in the district.
Recently, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology launched an all-inclusive stakeholders committee to look into reopening of schools amidst Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to bicycles, medical equipment such as chlorine, alcohol based hand sanitizers and face masks, were also donated.