MDF officers urged to lead in Aids fight

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) senior officers have been urged to take a leading role in combating Aids in army units.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop for commanding officers from army units in Malawi, Deputy Army Commander Lieutenant General Clement Kafuwa said senior officers should lead in the prevention of HIV and other sexual transmitted infections.

Closing the workshop on Friday, MDF director of Personnel Major General John Msonthi Jnr described HIV and Aids as MDF’s number one enemy.

“Aids is MDF number one enemy. As an institution, we have been losing a lot of soldiers to HIV and Aids. We have to take drastic steps to fight the pandemic by taking the issue with senior officers. The aim of the workshop was to create a forum to strategies against Aids.

“In the past, the issue of Aids was the responsibly of the medical department of MDF, but now it is the responsibility of commanding officers. It shows how serious we are in tackling Aids within MDF,” said Msonthi

Project Concern International (PCI) conducted the training with funding from the United States’ Department of Defence.

PCI country director Tim Connell said they partnered MDF to help build capacity to combat HIV and Aids within the army through provision of technical support.

“We are partnering with MDF to support them to address issues surrounding HIV and Aids in terms of treatment, prevention and provision of care and support of people living with HIV and Aids and those affected, “said Connell.