Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda says the Malawi Government is optimistic that it will end HIV and Aids as a public health threat by 2030.
Speaking in Lilongwe yesterday during a High-Level Panel on a Resilient and Fit-for-Purpose Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids), the minister said while progress has been made in the fight against HIV and Aids, the battle has not yet been won.
Said Chiponda: “All of us now are trying to say can we end HIV and Aids being a public health threat by 2030 which is about six years from now? Of course, it will require a lot for us as government to be committed, and we are really committed. From the little resources which we have as a country, the Ministry of Health has a lion’s share. This shows commitment.
“There are so many players in HIV management, with the civil society organisations playing their role in fighting stigma so that communities should be accepting and supportive of people living with HIV and Aids. Donor partners like the Global Fund and UNAids are pumping in resources. As such, we are optimistic that we can reach our objectives by 2030.”
The minister added that some of the challenges that have derailed the fight against HIV and Aids was the Covid-19 pandemic which shifted attention and resources away from the disease.
UNAids executive director Winnie Byanyima said the meeting was about reflecting on the progress the world has made against HIV and Aids and how the United Nations can change to support the struggle to end Aids.
She said the world, including Malawi, has made a lot of progress against HIV and Aids.
Said Byanyima: “For example, Malawi has brought down new infections by over 50 percent and reduced deaths by over 70 percent.
“But we must not confuse progress and success. Last year over 600 000 people died of HIV and Aids in the world, with sub-Sahara registering the most deaths. Last year, 143 million people were infected with HIV and Aids. Malawi registered 12 000 new infections last year. So, the fight is not yet over.”
She has since promised to continue lobbying for financial support for Malawi to help its HIV and Aids fight.
UNAids is working with countries across the world to end the Aids epidemic by 2030. Their vision is zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero Aids-related deaths.
