Government to intervene in Napham, Macro woes

Minister of Health Dr Peter Kumpalume has assured that financial crises National Association for People living with HIV and Aids in Malawi (Napham) and Malawi Counselling and Resource Organisation (Macro) are facing will not result into the suffering of persons living with HIV and Aids (PLWHAs).

Recently, Napham and Macro announced the scaling down of their services because of financial difficulties.

The development raised fears among health rights activists that the scaling down of services would compromise the gains Malawi has made in containing the pandemic.

Chiradzulu District Council HIV and Aids coordinator, Chris Nawata, also confessed that Napham and Macro have been instrumental in promoting ‘greater involvement of PLWHAs)’.

“Napham and Macro have, over the years, played a critical role in motivating openness among PLWHAs. Therefore, their scaling down of services will be two steps backwards in national response to the pandemic,” he said.

But Kumpalume assured in an interview last week that government will intervene to ensure that PLWHAs do not suffer due to the depletion of financial resources at the two institutions.

Said the minister: “Government is committed to ensuring that there no compromised interventions on the fight against HIV and Aids in the country. Health rights activists and PLWHAs should, therefore, rest assured that government will maintain the momentum towards HIV and Aids fight.”

But Kumpalume was quick to appeal to donors and well-wishers to join government in replenishing financial resources at Napham and Macro.