Malawi to commemorate world AIDS day: Ceremony to be held in Nsanje
Malawi will on 1st December join the rest of the world in commemorating the world AIDS day in a ceremony to be held in Nsanje District.
The launch of the 2012/2013 world AIDS day will be held in Nsanje District, whereby the community and institutional level activities will be highlighted from Sunday December 2, 2012.
The theme this year aims at addressing to getting the zero new HIV infections, Zero AIDS-related deaths and getting to zero discrimination.
Speaking at the press briefing held in Lilongwe, Secretary for Nutrition HIV and AIDS in the office of President and Cabinet, Edith Mkawa said it is everyone’s duty to take part in combating the effects of HIV and AIDS.
Mkawa said: “I believe that government leadership in HIV and AIDS should be implemented by active participation of non-governmental organizations, community organizations, faith based organizations, civil society just to mention a few.”
She indicated that based on the theme the campaign will advocate for aggressive HIV prevention interventions, acceleration of access to treatment and care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
She called upon all Malawians to take part and renew their commitment to taking direct action that tackles HIV and AIDS at personal and family levels.
The PS said if people will be able to renew their commitment Malawi will be able to achieve the ambitious goal of getting to zero.
“We should all do something to provide care and social support to people who are infected with HIV or those that are impacted upon and we should also make sure that people receive treatment as required, “said Mkawa.
Speaking at the same press briefing the Director of Programmes at the National AIDS Commission (NAC), Marriam Mangochi said all the stakeholders are committed to work with Government to fight the pandemic.
The PS also highlighted some of the achievements that have so far been achieved in the quest to getting to zero, she said the new infections have declined by 38% between 2007 and 2010, and there is a reduction in the new adult infections by 50% and adult prevalence rate from 11.8% in 2004 to 10.6% in 2010.
Close to 4 million people have had their first blood tested for HIV cumulatively, she said, adding that 569 health facilities are offering HIV Testing and Counseling services.
There are 534 Health Facilities offering prevention of mother to child Transmission of HIV in the country.
The total number of people who started receiving ART’s is over 505,055 and 369,436 of them are still alive and on treatment and the estimated annual number of AIDS deaths declined by 20% between 2007 and 2010.
The commemoration will be spiced up with traditional dances, drama, life testimonies from people living with HIV and AIDS just to mention a few.
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