Global HIV/AIDS

Malawi

HIV/AIDS in Malawi

11.0% Estimated Prevalence
(Age 15–49)
51,000 Estimated Deaths (2009)
650,000 Estimated Orphans
198,846 Reported Number of People Receiving ART
440,000 Estimated Number of People Needing ART

SOURCE:
UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, November 2010

HIV/AIDS Assets and Strategic Focus

Strategic Focus
The CDC Malawi office opened in November 2001. Since then, CDC has supported the Ministry of Health (MoH) by developing and supporting critical interventions in prevention, care, and treatment of HIV/AIDS. This work has included expanding prevention of mother-to-child treatment services (PMTCT), and assisting in the scale-up of antiretroviral treatment (ART).

Building Workforce Capacity
CDC is working with the MoH to address health care workforce shortages by investing in pre- and in-service training to build both current workforce capacity as well as fill the pipeline for future health care professionals. CDC is supporting five training institutions that will pay for the education of more than 500 health workers.

Strengthening Laboratory Systems
CDC provides technical assistance to the MoH to establish and sustain a tiered approach to laboratory services based on strengthening laboratory infrastructure and capacity towards accreditation. National diagnostics standards and guidelines have also been developed to assure the quality of laboratory test results throughout the country.

Strengthening Surveillance and Health Information Systems
CDC provides support to strengthen information systems for collecting and analyzing data to guide program decision-making. This support includes the administration of surveys as well as helping Malawi transition from paper-based to sustainable electronic data systems.

Notable Accomplishments

Integrated PMTCT and ART Program

CDC Malawi is supporting the MoH to design and roll out a new integrated PMTCT/ART program, which will provide lifelong ART to all HIV-infected pregnant women at all health centers. It is expected that the number of persons on ART will increase from 264,512 to more than 450,000 in 2014 as a result of this program, and that this program will save the lives of thousands of infants and adults.

Improved HIV Prevention through Medical Male Circumcision

CDC Malawi has successfully advocated for national support of medical male circumcision as a key intervention for HIV prevention, and has been at the forefront of efforts to develop medical male circumcision policies, technical guidelines and implementation strategies. Through these efforts, Malawi is now in a better position to roll out and scale up medical male circumcision programs.

Building Laboratory Capacity

Significant progress has been made in building capacity for a laboratory system that supports early infant diagnosis and referral to care and treatment. This includes supporting development of a National Laboratory Strategic Plan, implementing a plan to Strengthen Laboratory Management Through Accreditation, renovating and equipping laboratories. and training laboratory workers. Through this support, as many as 10,000 mother-baby pairs will be tested and referred for services each year.