Huge demand for ARVs for HIV + in Malawi

Malawi's Health Minister Professor Moses Charuwanangwa Chirambo. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Our Reporter

One of Malawi’s leading international non-governmental organizations, the Concern Universal says that recent statistics show that about 300,000 people need the life-prolonging drugs, the Antiretrovirals.

The organization has since raised an alarm that the figure is too big for a country like Malawi.

This was disclosed by Concern Universal’s Country Director, Samson Hailu in the central region mountainous district of Dedza where he presided over a meeting where Concern Universal employees were reflecting on the HIV/Aids pandemic.

The meeting, focused on the impact of the HIV/Aids pandemic in the implementation of Concern Universal’s projects in the country.

The non-governmental organisation’s boss observed that the pandemic has negatively affected its operations in implementing development projects in their impact areas.

“In this regard, there is need for Concern Universal employees and people they work with to voluntarily go for HIV testing to know their HIV status. If found positive, they can have a chance to access ARVs to prolong their lives and continue contributing towards the development of the country,” he said.

Hailu said according to this year’s World Aids Day theme “Universal Access and Human Rights”, every person including Concern Universal staff have a right to access HIV and AIDS services.

Recently, the Malawi government announced that it is planning to bring into the country, a manufacturer who would be able to produce ARV’s locally.

State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika disclosed that manufacturing ARVs locally, would allow more people to access the life pro-longing drugs at reasonable or cheaper prices on the part of the government.

He said that it was the wish of his government to make sure that very person found to be HIV positive is put on ARVs immediately the need arises.

He said this would unable HIV positive patients to live longer and contribute to the development of the country-Malawi Digest.