Regional taskforce on women and girls jets in
A high-powered delegation from East and Southern Africa is in Malawi to meet political, traditional and civil society leaders to tackle issues affecting the girl child, women and HIV/Aids.
The group, known as the High Level Task Force for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV (HLTF), arrived in the country on Monday, through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe.
Leader of delegation, Sheila Tlou, who is director of UNaids regional support team for Eastern and Southern Africa said the task force wants to support Malawi in addressing issues pertaining to girl child and other concerns.
“We want to see what rights are there to protect the girl child and women. We look forward to interacting with various stakeholders, especially traditional leaders and civil society organisations that deal with HIV/Aids an women,” said Tlou.
She has since hailed Malawi’s programme on Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission (PMCT) called the Option B plus and wished for other countries to emulate.
Minister of Gender and Children and Social Welfare, Clara Makungwa, who welcomed the delegation in the country’s said government will showcase to the group projects and achievements Malawi has made concerning girl child, women and HIV/Aids.
“Malawi has implemented a lot of gender related programmes such as the option B plus, safe motherhood initiatives and passed related laws, including the gender equality Act.
UNaids country coordinator Amakobe Sande said the group expects to meet President Joyce Banda tomorrow in Blantyre after conversing with paramount chiefs and other traditional leaders today in Lilongwe.
