The Ministry of Health (MoH) has disclosed that Malawi is doing well in the fight against HIV at the national level.
Director of the National HIV, Sexual transmitted Infections and Vital Hepatitis programme in the Ministry, Rose Nyirenda, said this in Lilongwe during the launch of Resilient & Empowered Adolescents & Young People (READY +).
This is in stark contrast to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO) which shows a global rise in HIV, viral hepatitis epidemics, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), with Americas and African regions having the highest increase.
Nyirenda said although the country has made progress at the national level, there are gaps in managing children and adolescents living with HIV.
She added that viral load suppression is the biggest challenge among children and adolescents living with HIV.
“We have some youths that have not been diagnosed, those that have not been initiated on treatment and a few that are not virally suppressed and the READY + initiative is coming at an opportune time,” Nyirenda said.
Clement Udedi, Executive Director for Malawi Aids Counselling and Resource Organisation, said children and adolescents are a key group that the country needs to focus on as it is going towards the goal of an HIV-free generation.
READY + is a movement of like-minded youth-led and youth-serving organisations that have various interventions aimed at empowering young people living and affected by HIV.
By Margaret Mapando
