‘50 000 Malawians catch HIV annually’

The National Aids Commission (NAC) says Malawi is on course towards achieving zero HIV infections as only 50 000 people get infected every year, a drop from 70 000 when the figure was last reviewed.

This was disclosed on Tuesday in the capital Lilongwe during an annual review meeting of the national response to HIV and Aids organised by the National Aids Commission (NAC) and the Malawi Partnership Forum.

NAC board chairperson Mara Kumbweza Banda said in the 27 years Malawi has had the pandemic, the country has made progress in combating HIV and Aids, but said new infections remain a challenge.

“The big question now is how do we get to zero new infections? I feel there is need to think again about our prevention initiatives. These initiatives must be evidence-based and well targeted.

“In 2011 to 2012 alone, 1.2 million people came forward for HIV testing and counselling. We have scaled up antiretroviral therapy such that as of March 2012, we had about 350 000 clients ever initiated on ART,” said Banda.

UNAids country director and chairperson of HIV and Aids Development Partner Group Patrick Benny called for collective efforts in fighting the pandemic.

“The response to HIV infection cannot succeed in Malawi or anywhere else in the world if we are not taking action and making an individual and a collective effort to address through our innovations and efforts the more pervasive inequities that threaten to undermine the goals we seek to attain,” said Benny.