10 local organisations get US grants
United States (US) Ambassador Virginia Palmer yesterday awarded K146.2 million grants to 10 organisations in 10 districts through the US Ambassador’s President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) Small Grants Programme.
Palmer, who presided over the signing ceremony, said the project aims to reach those most at risk such as adolescent girls and youths living with HIV and Aids through targeted interventions and comprehensive care.
She said: “As we march towards increasing the number of people tested and put on treatment, we need to find creative ways to make HIV services even more accessible so that we identify those not tested, and, if found positive, not only put them on treatment, but ensure they remain on, and adhere to, such treatment.”
Palmer said the projects enable the US government to continue supporting Malawi government in its Test and Treat Policy to help reach the 90-90-90 targets and ultimately achieve an Aids-free generation.
Among other things, the projects are expected to ensure voices from youth born and living with HIV and Aids are heard; address cultural norms and laws that create barriers to equal access to HIV and Aids services and identify gaps in service provision to people living with HIV and Aids and develop realistic solutions for improved service delivery to these individuals.
The grant recipients are: Centre for Rural Development, Communities in Development Activities, Foundation for Capacity and Community Development, Golomoti Aids Support Organisation, Malawi Aids Counselling and Resource Organisation and Malawi Union of the Blind.
The Pepfar Small Grants Programme funds small and innovative community-driven projects in Malawi. For the past five years, the programme has provided over K420 million to community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations that work to fight HIV and Aids.
