Today 1st December Malawi joins the Global community in observing the World AIDS Day (WAD). In Malawi the 2025 WAD commemoration has incorporated the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM). Globally the World AIDS Day is themed Overcoming Disruption, transforming the AIDS response. However locally the theme for this year`s joint event is ‘We Remember, We Lead, and We Rise to Transform the Response.
The primary objectives of the joint WAD and IACM commemoration are to bolster HIV awareness, foster unity in the response to HIV and AIDS, express solidarity with individuals living with HIV, honor those who have dedicated their lives to helping people living with or affected by HIV and those who succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses.
Locally, the official launch of this year’s joint WAD and IACM commemoration is taking place simultaneously in various districts including Blantyre, Lilongwe, Salima and Nkhatabay on the 1st December, followed by Mangochi on 16th December 2025. The WAD and IACM joint commemoration is emphasizing on improving uptake of HIV and AIDS services among men. Blantyre is targeting men in the workplace; Lilongwe is focusing on the informal sector especially public markets; Nkhatabay is targeting Fishermen, Plantations and Kabanza operators; while in Salima Uniformed Forces, Kabanza operators and Key Populations; and Mangochi, the focus is on migrant men. In her remarks, the National AIDS Commission Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beatrice Matanje observes that unlike previous years, this year’s commemoration comes at a time when there are a lot of uncertainties surrounding HIV funding. Therefore Dr. Matanje indicated that it cannot be business as usual.
“I am pleased to inform you that Malawi has reached HIV epidemic control. The country has achieved the 95:95:95 treatment targets in line with the global goal of ‘Ending AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030’. These targets stipulates that 95% of people living with HIV should know their HIV+ status; 95% of those that have been diagnosed with HIV should be enrolled on the life-prolonging Anti-retroviral medicines, and 95% of those enrolled on the ARVs should have their viral load suppressed,”explains Dr. Matanje
Dr. Matanje has therefore pleaded with all stakeholders to take time rethink how implement HIV interventions to sustain the gains made so far in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
The WAD and IACM joint commemoration is led by the Local Councils and co-led by the Malawi Network of AIDS Services Organization (MANASO) and Malawi Network of People living with HIV (MANET+) with support from the National AIDS Commission (NAC), the Directorate of HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis (DHA), other sectoral coordinating bodies, Key Populations groups, the Joint United Nations Program n HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) and other Development Partners.
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