Malawi Making Strides In HIV/Aids Fight

Nietzke : Malawi Could become first to achieve epidemic control Nietzke : Malawi Could become first to achieve epidemic control Pic US embassy

Malawi expects to attain the 90-90-90 goal in the fight against HIV and Aids this year, a feat government says indicated the country has made tremendous progress.

Health and Population minister, Jappie Mhango, said this in Lilongwe Tuesday at the launch of a six month population-based HIV Impact Assessment survey.

Mhango said records show that as at now, Malawi has managed an 81-84-93 rate on those affected by HIV/Aids, on ARVs and those with low viral load respectively.

The achievement is being attributed to interventions implemented by government with the help of donors and other stakeholders in the health sector.

In 2016, when the first Malawi population-based HIV Impact Assessment-MPHIA survey was conducted, it was discovered that one out of every five households was affected by the problem, with female-headed families being the most hit.

Meanwhile, as the second MPHIA survey for the year 2020 is underway, Mhango observes that it is critical to understand the situation to achieve a 90-90-90 rate.

“This year we are expected to hit the target of 90 percent diagnosed, 90 percent put on care and 90 percent on suppression, so the survey is intended to inform us how far we have gone, where we are lagging and going forward, if we are getting new infections.

“We call on communities to cooperate because it is for their own benefit. You if you are identified to be positive, you will immediately be put on care,” Mhango said.

On his part, US embassy deputy chief of mission Jeremy Nietzke said the US is committed to assisting Malawi in combating HIV and Aids.

“Well since 2004 the United States under the president’s initiative has been providing assistance towards this in different countries, and particularly here in Malawi, it is probably going to be the first country to achieve the epidemic control,” said Nietzke.

Fifteen thousand households and 19 thousand people will be involved in the survey in all districts except Likoma and the results are expected out in December 2020.

The survey will paint a picture on the status of the HIV epidemic, uptake and impact of prevention, care and treatment services in Malawi.

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