Lack of Act hampers HIV fight
Various stakeholders have said the absence of proper legislation to guide in the fight against HIV and Aids in the country is making the war difficult to win.
This was disclosed at this year’s conference on HIV and Aids, which the Society for Women and Aids Malawi (Swam) hosted in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
Speaking during the event, where former first lady Callista Mutharika was the guest of honour, Malawi Network of People Living with HIV and Aids (Manet+) executive director Safari Mbewe said the delay in having the legal framework is actually helping the pandemic spread.
He cited the failure to regulate traditional healers as issue that can be addressed through proper legislation.
Said Mbewe: “What we are saying is that there are a lot of traditional healers and church ministries that are claiming to be cleansing people of HIV and Aids. Worse still, others encourage patients to stop taking medication, assuring them that they are healed.”
In her remarks, Swam country director Rose Gondwe said this year’s meeting invited traditional chiefs and the youth because “we feel they are crucial in the fight against the HIV and Aids”.
