Mchinji makes strides in HIV fight

Mchinji senior nutrition and HIV and Aids officer Patrick Mlenga has said the district has reduced HIV and Aids prevalence rate from 10 percent to about five percent despite having minimal resources.

The officer said this during a Candlelight Memorial event at Mphalabungu Primary School in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mavwere in the district last week. The event was sponsored by Centre for Human Rights and Institute for National Social Initiative (Chinansi) Foundation.

“Mchinji has made tremendous progress in reducing HIV prevalence. Ten years ago it stood at 18 percent…but the recent Demographic Health Survey shows it is hovering around 5.8 percent,” Mlenga said.

He said so far, about 33 000 people have been put on anti-retroviral therapy in the district with 15 000 still accessing treatment while others have transferred, died or defaulted.

Chinansi Foundation country director Simplex Chithyola said despite increased sensitisation to harmful practices and traditions, people are still contracting the virus.

He said for Malawi to achieve the 90-90-90 target, there was need for collaboration and a shared responsibility from all stakeholders in the fight against the pandemic.