KUTOKA MALAWI

Imetoka PAMBAZUKA NEWS - Gazeti la Mtandaoni, Afrika.
Carlyn Hambuba

Malawi is a land-locked country in southern Africa. With a population of
between 11.5 to 12.5 million and is among the poorest countries in the
world. Like many other sub Saharan countries, Malawi is grappling with
the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Women are most affected by the pandemic - out of
809, 833 persons living with HIV in the country, 473, 000 are women.

The civil service is the worst hit sector in the country. The Malawi
police service has a high HIV prevalence rate among its service women;
an update on the Malawi National Response to HIV/AIDS indicates that 32
percent of female police officers are currently infected with HIV.

There has been marked success within development organizations that are
able to design HIV/AIDS mainstreaming strategies in an effort to
prevent, and mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS. These lessons along with
the strategies employed by a handful of dedicated individuals have the
potential to make real change in ho Malawi and other African countries
address HIV/AIDS.

As the world commemorates World AIDS Day, The African Women’s
Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) celebrates the role of
dedicated women in Africa who work tirelessly to fight HIV/AIDS. Eluby
Jere, a policewoman based in Malawi’s commercial capital Blantyre, is
one such person who has worked hard, with little recognition.
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