Men’s tendency of shunning medical attention until they are critically ill is said to be fuelling HIV related deaths in the country.
This was revealed on Tuesday during a stakeholders meeting that National AIDS Commission – NAC held at M’mbelwa District Council.
NAC HIV Prevention and Management Officer, Dominic Gondwe, revealed that a 2022 epidemiological estimate report indicates that HIV related deaths involving males of 15 years above stands at 6,100 whilst females of the same age category the deaths stand at 4,500.
‘By the time they visit the hospital, its when they are very sick. Unfortunately, they had unknowingly spread the HIV virus to many people’, Gondwe said.
Mzimba South Director of Health and Social Services, Dr. Ted Bandawe expressed worry over the statistics and has called for joint efforts in creating an environment that would make men comfortable to visit hospitals in time.
