Friday, 13th February 2026 marked the beginning of a strategic working relationship between the new Parliamentary Committee on Health and the National AIDS Commission, aiming at promoting and sustaining HIV and AIDS program gains from the grassroot level.
The engagement which brought together the Parliamentary Committee on Health members and the National AIDS Commission Management team, took place at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe. The meeting was organized to orient and enlighten the Committee on the role of the Commission as mandated by the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Management ACT (no.9 of 2018).
What sparked the Committee’s curiosity was the presentation titled ‘Malawi’s HIV and response: Progress, Gaps and Recommendations’ which was delivered by NAC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beatrice Matanje.
The presentation highlighted remarkable gains which the country has registered over the years which have elevated Malawi’s profile as one of the countries which have achieved tangible strides in its efforts towards ending HIV and AIDS as a public health threat.
In the presentation, Dr Matanje also highlighted some of the ongoing challenges such as the recent shift in external financing for HIV programming and other health services. “If not addressed through increased domestic funding, the program disruptions caused by reduced external financing may result into treatment interruptions, escalation of new infections, drug resistance, higher long-term health costs and a reversal of decades of national progress”, stated Dr. Matanje.
The NAC CEO therefore pleaded with the new Parliamentary Committee on Health members to consider taking a decisive role to help lobby for more domestic funding towards HIV prevention and treatment with a specific focus of revamping and strengthening district and community-based action.
“We therefore respectfully urge this Committee and the Parliament to consider strengthening domestic budget allocations and ring-fencing some for community-based integrated HIV and broader health services to ensure sustainability and safeguarding of essential program interventions from fiscal volatility. Ring-fencing is not preferential treatment but protection of an investment that has already yielded immeasurable returns”, stated Dr Matanje
The presentation generated great interest and mixed reactions among the Parliamentary Committee of Health members with some requesting for mandatory HIV testing and treatment to close the case identification gaps and control further spread of HIV. Others were of the view that massive nation-wide sensitization campaign would mitigate people’s low risk perception towards HIV and AIDS. The Commission committed to develop and share with all Members of Parliament and Ward Councilors, an information kit with essential messages on HIV biomedical and non-biomedical prevention, as well as treatment adherence. Nonetheless, the Committee members enormously acknowledged the need to support NAC’s efforts and through the Committee’s chairperson Honourable Anthony Masamba, members assured NAC of continued lobbying for domestic funding.
“This engagement has come at a very right time, and I can tell you that we have been challenged to take decisive action and one of them is to help lobby for increased resources towards the sustainability of the HIV control interventions in this country”, stated Hon Masamba.
The National AIDS Commission (NAC) was re-established in October 2018 as a fully subverted Independent State Institution by the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act No. 9 of 2018 to provide leadership and coordination of the multi-sectoral implementation of the National HIV and AIDS policy and strategic plans.
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