Stakeholders in the HIV and Aids response have expressed concern about the decision by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (UNAids) to leave Malawi and coordinate affairs from Zimbabwe.
They argue that the move represents the most significant threat to Malawi’s HIV response in decades with far-reaching implications for public health, community systems and human rights.
In a letter to the Malawi Government addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNAids executive director Winnie Byanyima said the decision follows a request from UNAids Board proposing a new operating model for the organisation.
She also said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched his UN80 initiative to bring reforms in the UN system and this transformation responds to both calls.
Reads the communication: “We have carefully reviewed our presence and contribution to the Aids response in Malawi and as part of the ongoing transformation we wish to inform you that support to Malawi will be led from Zimbabwe with a small UNAids Secretariat presence remaining in Lilongwe.
“We will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition. Going forward, you will also be able to draw on our expertise located at the multi-country office in Zimbabwe, the Regional Support Team, our global centre and within the UNAids cosponsors.”
Byanyima hoped that Malawi will appreciate the circumstances in the decision to reduce our presence has been made, assuring that the UNAids Joint Programme will continue to support the country’s efforts to end Aids as a public health threat by 2030.
She said UNAids’ new country footprint will cover 54 countries, representing 80 percent of people living with HIV and 71 percent of new HIV infections in 2024.
Meanwhile, Civil Society Advocacy Forum (Csaf ), a network of registered organisations working on issues related to HIV and Aids, TB, SRHR and other related conditions, has expressed its deep concern over the recommendation.
Csaf chairperson Gift Trapence said in a statement that for nearly 30 years, UNAids has been a cornerstone of Malawi’s HIV response, directly contributing to the progress Malawi has made towards achieving the 95-95-95 targets and goal of ending Aids by 2030.
Malawi Government officials were not readily available for comment since Thursday.
However, speaking during a media training at Mponela in Dowa recently, Ministry of Health’s HIV and Viral Hepatitis Directorate deputy director Rabson Kachala said government has increased domestic financing for HIV programming.
