On January 5th, 2023, St. Gabriel’s Mission Hospital, a CHAM-affiliated health facility, hosted a delegation from the Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS and Nutrition to review the delivery of HIV services. The visit was part of the committee’s effort to appreciate efforts being made to address the HIV epidemic in Malawi, and St. Gabriel’s was selected to represent the high standards of care provided at all CHAM facilities.
The Director of Health Programs at CHAM, Mr. Elled Mwenyekonde, led the delegation and highlighted the comprehensive HIV services provided at St. Gabriel’s, which include the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) services, and care and support for people living with HIV.
The delegation was impressed by the high level of community engagement and the integration of HIV services with other health services. They also noted the strong efforts being made to reach key populations, reduce stigma and discrimination, and improve retention rates on ART.
As of 2020, Malawi had an estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV, with an adult HIV prevalence rate of 9.1% and a prevalence rate of 14.6% among adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24, according to UNAIDS. The Government of Malawi, with support from partners like CHAM, has been working to achieve the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets to help end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
The delegation also had the opportunity to tour the ART clinic and meet with providers who shared their positive experiences at St. Gabriel’s. The Chairperson of the committee, Honorable Darlington Harawa from Dowa Central Constituency, commended the facility for the high standards of care and support provided to people living with HIV, recognizing the role CHAM plays in addressing the HIV epidemic in the country.
The visit by the Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS and Nutrition is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of CHAM and its staff in delivering quality and comprehensive HIV services to communities in Malawi. CHAM will continue to support the government’s efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS and in promoting universal health coverage in the country.