The NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) has described as disheartening reports that hundreds of girls have been impregnated due to closure of schools in the past four months.

Reports indicate that over 7000 teenage girls in Mangochi and over 300 in Nsanje have been impregnated from January to June this year.

Commenting on the development, Board Member of the NGO-GCN responsible for Gender Based Violence Kulimbamtima Portia Chiotcha said the figures are shocking and demand timely intervention.

“These figures are worrisome, you know as the country is fighting against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also found ourselves in another problem whereby our teenage girls are being impregnated with such alarming figures,” wondered Chiotcha.

Chiotcha has since pleaded for concerted efforts towards ensuring that the girls are helped amid closure of schools in the country due to COVID-19.

“We need to come together as stakeholders involved in the regards to issues involving girls empowerment to curb this immoral that is upon us by reaching out to these girls otherwise we will lose twice as a nation,” cautioned Chiotcha.

According to the NGO-GCN Board Member, the Network has already embarked on a number of intervention measures by, among others, having direct engagement with relevant stakeholders in the worst affected communities.