NGO promotes ART adherence

Centre for Human Rights and Institute for National Social Initiative (Chinansi) Foundation) has said the high anti-retroviral therapy (ART) default rate in Malawi is retrogressive in the HIV and Aids response.

Speaking in Mchinji on Friday, Chinansi Foundation project officer Furaha Kaluwa said they want to reduce HIV and Aids mortality, morbidity and transmission rates in communities, hence their decision to distribute 88 push bikes to community-based mentor mothers and peer educators to promote adherence.

“With funding from Action-Aid through Christian-Aid, Chinansi is addressing gender and social norms, strengthening community systems and integrating interventions to contribute to the attainment of the 90-90-90 national goal,” he said.

Kaluwa also said the project covers 12 traditional authorities (T/As) where 346 peer educators have been drilled in prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) and ART adherence.

Christian-Aid HIV programmes coordinator

Christopher Kandionamaso said the 88 bicycles will support mentor mothers and peer educators in tracking ART defaulters to reduce mortality.

“The bicycles will ease transportation challenges peer educators face. This will in turn bring better outcomes in terms of ART adherence, male involvement in PMTCT and raising of community awareness on PMTCT in Mchinji District,” he said. n