BLANTYRE—Let’s talk about sex.

What?

Let’s talk about sex.

You must be crazy!

No, let’s do it.

OK.

The Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS charge that lack of openness amongst married couples on issues of sexuality and satisfaction is fuelling the spread of HIV in communities.

Annie Banda,  national coordinator of the coalition, was quoted by the Malawi News Agency as telling Dowa District Executive Committee when she introduced a nine month project aimed at reducing the vulnerability of women to HIV in Traditional Authorities Msakambewa and Kayembe.

She said culturally people in the country tend to treat issues of sexuality and satisfaction as a secret hence an increase in infidelity and spread of HIV.

“Discussing sex and sexuality is a taboo in Malawi yet issues of HIV have everything to do with sex and sexuality,” said Banda, urging on stakeholders to join hands in addressing the challenge.

The Project, which is expected to end in April 2013, is dubbed ‘Challenging Culturally Endorsed Perception of Masculinity that Exacerbate Women’s Vulnerability’ and is funded by Trocaire to the tune of K3 million.

The organization was established in 2006 to create a united voice of women and girls living with HIV/AIDS in addressing their challenges.

Malawi has over one million affected with HIV while over 300,000 people are on free and life prolonging drugs.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction without acknowledgment prohibited.