By Memory Kutengule Chatonda 

Blantyre, May 4, MANA: Blantyre District Health Office says it has made significant progress in reducing cases of new HIV infections among people in the district due to massive HIV prevention sensitization campaigns under 'Konda Moyo, Konda Blantyre.

The campaign, which is implemented through the Blantyre Preventive Strategy (BPS) by the Blantyre DHO and City Council with funds from the Gates Foundation in partnership with the Centre for Innovation in Global Health at Georgetown University through the Malawi National Aids Commission, seeks to raise awareness among people about HIV preventive measures.

Speaking on Friday during the Konda Blantyre, Konda Moyo campaign at Soche Maternity in the area of Traditional Authority Somba, Blantyre DHO Health and Promotions Officer Chrissy Banda said the BPS was initiated based on the Malawi Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (MPHIA) survey conducted in 2016-17, which indicated that Blantyre was one of the districts with a high burden of HIV.

She said the situation prompted the health office, in collaboration with the city council, to launch a district-based prevention campaign through the BPS to reduce new HIV infections in the district.

"As a district, we have been following our data on how we are faring. We are continuing to implement the campaign in the facilities whenever we observe a slight increase in the number of new HIV infections and STI cases.

"We have been conducting this campaign to sensitize people on HIV preventive measures and also bring the services closer to the people," she said.

According to Banda, through the campaigns, the district has made positive strides in reducing new HIV infections and STIs.

 She cited that new HIV infections are currently at 2 percent, down from 6 percent in previous years based on the Palms data platform.

"This is a good development for us. However, we will not relent in monitoring our data. Once we notice a red flag, we will respond accordingly," Banda said.

Speaking on behalf of TA Somba of Blantyre, Group Village Chiimire hailed the Blantyre DHO and the city council for taking the campaign to the area to sensitize their subjects on HIV prevention measures.

She pledged to spread the messages far and wide using different social gatherings.

So far, similar campaigns have been conducted in various health facilities such as Kachere, Chilomoni, and Soche Maternity.