Statistics obtained from the One Stop Centre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre indicate that cases of defilement are on the increase in the country.

A report obtained from Blantyre Police indicates that between June and December 2012, 149 cases were registered in Blantyre alone.

The cases involved men sexually abusing young girls from as young as oneyear-olds to 18-year-olds.

Blantyre Police spokesperson Lameck Thembachako feared that the statistics could be staggering since this is only one district in Malawi.

"This is only one district in Malawi and we have 28 districts. This shows that young girls are at risk of sexual abuse in the country," he said.

Thembachako said the One Stop Centre in Blantyre has not only improved collection of data but also improved the manner in which victims are assisted.

"The centre has eased the manner in which victims are assisted because it houses the police, counsellors and clinicians who attend to the victim right away," he said.

Sexual Behavioural Change Expert Timothy Bonyonga said the only way to reverse the situation is to give the children sex education at a tender age.

"The young girls should be given sex education at a tender age so that they should be able to recognise abusers and report them to authorities early before damage is done.

"Most of these offenders are people who are close to these kids. And they don't just wake up and abuse the young girl but it's something they develop over a period of time and when they see that the girl is not doing anything to stop it they eventually defile the girl. Parents should teach the children that if anyone touches them inappropriately they should report that person immediately," he said.

Last year Minister of Gender Anita Kalinde acknowledged the problem and promised to plough resources into the fight against sexual abuse of children in the country.