UNAIDS, AMBASSADORS, GOVERNMENT,NAC AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS HAVE PLEDGED NOT TO RELENT IN THEIR EFFORTS AND SUPPORT TO SUSTAIN GAINS MADE IN MALAWI ‘S HIV NATIONAL RESPONSE

“We will not allow progress to slip away; We will not abandon the one million Malawians living with HIV who depend on us. We choose courage!  We choose Solidarity! We Choose Action!

That’s a strong commitment pronounced by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health Benson Chisamile, on behalf of the Minister of Health in the statement delivered on 1^st December 2025 at the Breakfast Roundtable Discussion on UN-Joint programme of Support on HIV Response in Malawi.  The statement marked the opening of the UN Joint Program of support on HIV response and World AIDS Day commemoration. The event was held at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe. The Principal Secretary observed that while Malawi is celebrating gains made over the years, severe reductions in external funding and pressure of a challenging macroeconomic environment threatens to disrupt essential lifesaving services. He proudly mentioned milestones like the UNAIDS 95:95:95 targets which the country has achieved ahead of schedule and reduced new HIV infections by 76 percent since 2010. “This extraordinary achievement reflects strong national leadership, the dedication of partners and the courage and resilience of communities and people living with HIV.  We applaud these combined efforts with pride, however our progress though historic is fragile, it is time to accelerate the response we risk slowing down,” states the Principle Secretary.

In the statement, the PS stated that Malawi has taken decisive steps to ensure continuity and protect the progress among them operationalization of the Health Sector Financing Strategy to establish a fully functional health financing system capable of supporting Universal Health coverage. “We are also exploring ways to increase domestic resource mobilization, and it is within this context that the UN Joint Programme of Support on HIV becomes both timely and essential. This program represents a strategic shift”, he added.

Concurring with the Health ministry, National AIDS Commission Chief executive Officer Dr. Beatrice Matanje attested to the fact that Malawi’s HIV response stands at a crossroads and called for concerted efforts to sustain the gains made in the HIV National response. “We cannot afford to lose the gains. Malawi has been recognized internationally for delivering effective and efficient interventions, and I am confident that through our collective efforts, we are going to safeguard the gains and sustain the National Response to HIV. This is the reason we coined this year ‘s joint World AIDS Day and International AIDS Candlelight Memorial commemoration theme ‘‘We Remember, We Lead, We Rise to Transform the Response’ We are all called to dutyto sustain the gains”, said Dr. Matanje

UNAIDS Representative and Country Director for Malawi Dr. David Chipanta acknowledged that Malawi’s HIV response is strong but fragile. He states that Malawi has become a leader in the AIDS response because of concerted efforts. However, he was quick to say that the funding cuts from the United States of America Government, the largest funder of HIV in Malawi, and other donors are threatening these gains.

The AIDS response is severely disrupted, when it is supposed to be strong to finish the unfinished business of HIV. At this time the efforts of UNAIDS secretariat and co-sponsor should be in supporting countries in responding to the disruptions and in securing the future of the AIDS response”, explains Dr. Chipanta.

The UN Joint Programme of Support was updated to run from 2025-2030 to the tune of U$15 million and is about supporting Malawi, continue to meet the needs of one million people living with HIV, and preventing new HIV infections.

The Breakfast Roundtable Discussion on UN-Joint programme of Support on HIV Response in Malawi was attended by UN agencies, country ambassadors, diplomats, government officials and Civil Society organizations. They enormously pledged their support to sustain gains made in HIV national response.