Eleven Malawians have been honoured with different awards for their efforts in the fight against HIV and Aids at the International Aids Conference in the Netherlands.
The recipients come from various sectors including service providers, clients and the arts.
Loveness Gunda Bowa, a nurse/midwife, was awarded the Me and My Healthcare Provider for providing comprehensive, stigma-free information and services on HIV-related issues to sex workers in Machinga.
“Me and My Healthcare Provider celebrates exceptional providers who are #DoingTheRightThing and making a tangible difference in the lives of the people they serve. The campaign is driven by members of key populations who nominate their healthcare providers for the award,” reads a part of the citation for the awards.
Besides Gunda Bowa, the other the award recipients are Judith Nthini who works as a peer educator with Youth Net and Counselling (Yoneco), Richard Mwanjasi and six members of the Zathu Band—Nyokase Madise, Esther Chitheka Louis, Theresa Dzanjalimodzi, Jonathan Pangani, Paul Kachala and Praise Umali.
Lawyer Wesley Mwafulirwa was also recognised for fighting for the rights of a woman with HIV and Aids pro bono.
Other champions of the awards are from Uganda, Lebanon and Kazakhstan. n
