Challenges in HIVAIDS project approaches the case of Malawi

1
Challenges in HIV/AIDS project approaches the
case of Malawi

• Overview of discussants comments to Michael
  Usis presentation
• Main achievements in the Malawi Integrated
  HIV/AIDS Project
• Main challenges, needs and constraints
• Lessons learnt from regional cross-sectoral
  HIV/AIDS prevention and control programmes and
  projects
• Prospects for future development and increased
  cost-effectiveness of the Malawi Integrated
  HIV/AIDS Project

2
Challenges in HIV/AIDS project approaches the
case of Malawi

• Main achievements of the Malawi Integrated
  HIV/AIDS Project
• Wide range of community based and community
  outreach activities, ranging from IEC, HBC, OVC,
  established and sustained through cadre of
  dedicated community volunteers
• High coverage of interactive communication,
  particularly with youth, through outreach by
  volunteers (PET) and through mass-media

3
Challenges in HIV/AIDS project approaches the
case of Malawi

• Main achievements of the Malawi Integrated
  HIV/AIDS Project
• Well established and hierarchical peer outreach
  (PT-PE-Peers) established and targeting youth in-
  and out-of-school
• A-B-C message (three-boat-metaphor) well
  established, widely accepted and distributed
• Traditional practices respected, TBAs and THs
  enrolled in cadre of volunteers and elements of
  risk in traditional practices replaced by neutral
  components

4
Challenges in HIV/AIDS project approaches the
case of Malawi

• Main challenges, constraints and needs in the
  Malawi Integrated HIV/AIDS Project
• Knowledge now universal and integrated but
  attitudes, beliefs and practices still presenting
  challenges
• Stigmatisation and discrimination against persons
  infected and affected by HIV/AIDS still
  widespread
• Effective behaviour-change strategies still
  remain to be strengthened and cadre of outreach
  change agents and role models need to be
  recruited and their activities sustained

5
Challenges in HIV/AIDS project approaches the
case of Malawi

• Main challenges, constraints and needs in the
  Malawi Integrated HIV/AIDS Project
• Increasing poverty levels and gap-widening
  between the haves and the have-nots in
  Malawi have far reaching consequences for a
  poverty-related epidemic, like HIV/AIDS
• Need for redefinition of target groups in the
  light of decreasing age of sexual debut
• VCT a necessary component of the project, but
  accessibility hampered by stigmatisation. More
  advocacy and human rights endeavours needed!