By Doreen Chiwalo

Mwanza, December 13, Mana: Mwanza District Council commemorated World AIDS Day and Candle Light Memorial as the council and partners in HIV and AIDS response reflected on ways and means of reducing HIV transmission down to a zero transmission.

Speaking at Kalanga Primary School on Tuesday, Mwanza Council Chairperson, Councilor, Bellon Kasambwe called on partners to ensure further reduction of HIV transmission.

“Reduction of HIV transmission from eight to four out of every 100 in the district is a great achievement. There is need for collaboration to stop the transmission completely,” said Kasambwe and commended a local organization, Our Bodies Our Lives (OBOL) Movement, for empowering women living with HIV by providing them with startup capital for small scale businesses.

OBOL’s district coordinator, Loreta Simbeye said: “We have over K8 million in our group account which we have raised through Village Savings and Loans.” 

In an interview Mwanza District AIDS Coordinating Committee, Chairperson, Madalitso Chochongwe bemoaned low participation of men in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the district.

"We will not relax. We intensify HIV and AIDS awareness and mobilise men so that together we can succeed in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” said Chochongwe".

In his remarks Senior Chief Govati warned faith leaders against discouraging people living with HIV from Anti-Retroviral Therapy, saying they should allow people living with HIV to only receive healing prayers.

He observed that discouraging people living with HIV from consistently taking ARVs was a setback in district HIV and AIDS response, saying; "You should report to police any religious leader who stops people from taking the ARVs in my area,” 

One of the people living with HIV, Phaless Stanford testified on the benefits of taking ARVs and encouraged people to go for HIV test to receive proper medical attention and support.

During the commemoration, 22 people got tested.

This year’s Worlds AIDS Day was commemorated under the theme; “Let Communities Lead by Spreading Love and Showing Solidarity in Ending AIDS”.

The commemoration received support from Malawi Red Cross Society, Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM), Mwaso, Youth Net and Counselling (Yoneco) Concern Worldwide, OBOL Movement, Elizabeth Glasser Pediatric Foundation (EGPAF) and World Vision Malawi