Malawi will this year commemorate World AIDS Day with a new decentralized approach that puts men at the centre of HIV prevention efforts, amid growing concerns that recent funding disruptions could derail hard-won gains in the national HIV response.
Instead of hosting one national event, the National AIDS Commission (NAC) has split activities across five districts, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Salima, Nkhata Bay and Mangochi, each targeting specific groups of men who remain underserved in HIV testing and prevention.
NAC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beatrice Matanje said the decision follows data showing that although Malawi has achieved the global 95-95-95 HIV treatment targets ahead of the 2025 deadline, men and children continue to lag behind.
“We still have more men who do not know their HIV status than women. Men have achieved the second and third 95, but when it comes to testing, we are at 94 percent. That means we still have men living with HIV who do not yet know their status,” she said.
The district-based commemorations will therefore, according to Matanje, target men in different environments: workplace men in Blantyre, informal sector workers in Lilongwe, uniformed forces and kabaza operators in Salima, migrant men in Mangochi, and fishermen in Nkhata Bay.
“We cannot use a one-size-fits-all message. Men are found in different settings, and each group needs tailored HIV messages,” Matanje added.
Meanwhile, Civil society organizations say the shift to districts is also influenced by recent funding disturbances, following the withdrawal of some international donors including the U.S. government.
Malawi Network of AIDS Services (Manaso) Executive Director Emily Kaimba said the cut in resources has already affected the ability of community groups to deliver HIV services.
“We have seen employees being laid off and resources to communities being cut. The impact is big, especially on the HIV profession,” she said.
However, she stressed that community networks remain resilient.
Manaso, which is mandated to coordinate World AIDS Day activities, is urging the media and the public to mobilize communities to attend the district events.
Manet Plus Executive Director Lawrence Khonyongwa echoed concern over donor fatigue, warning that Malawi must begin planning for full domestic financing of HIV services if it is serious about the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
“Donors are pulling out because we committed that by 2030, we should be able to handle HIV treatment and prevention ourselves. You cannot have a law that says ARVs are free, yet have no money to buy them. Government needs to start putting money into the ARV budget now,” he said.
Khonyongwa, however, commended Malawi for major progress in reducing new infections and AIDS-related deaths, citing expanded access to antiretroviral therapy and the impact of treatment-as-prevention.
As Malawi prepares for the commemorations, scheduled for December 1 in four districts and December 16 in Mangochi, health leaders say the message is clear: men must take responsibility for knowing their HIV status.