By JULIUS PHIRI–
THE National AIDS Council (NAC) has estimated that 169 pregnancies have been recorded among pupils in Eastern Province schools in the first quarter of this year alone.
Eastern Province AIDS Coordination Advisor (PACA), Emmanuel Chama disclosed at the HIV/AIDS sensitisation meeting for the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications in Chipata yesterday that most of the girls who had fallen pregnant were either on maternity break or still attending classes.
Mr Chama said the number of girls who had become pregnant in the province was alarming.
He said two years ago, about 68 girls at Hillside Girls High School in Chipata District were reported to be pregnant.
“Some two years ago, about 68 girls had fallen pregnant at Hillside Girls and this year in the first quarter statistics shows that 169 girls are pregnant in Eastern Province,” Mr Chama said.
He said most of the girls who were falling pregnant are from distant places and were renting boarding houses.
Mr Chama also disclosed that some lodges had been turned into brothels where short-time sex was being conducted by the school girls.
Speaking at the same meeting, Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Zechariah Luhanga said some teachers responsible for some of the pregnancies.
He warned those found wanting that they would be dismissed from employment and face the wrath of the law.
Mr Luhanga said that Chipata Golf Course had been turned into a sex den by people who were patronising the premises at the night.
He said there was need for Chipata Municipal Council to conduct patrols at night in the Golf Course so that those found wanting were punished.