MSF counsellor Charity stands in the middle of HIV positive adolescents as she gives them the basic infos about the virus during an educational session at Mbulumbuzi Health Centre, Malawi.

Malawi

In Malawi, MSF continues to run programmes to improve care for people living with HIV, the leading cause of death in the country, and for women with cervical cancer.

Malawi is making progress in tackling HIV, but prevalence is still high at almost nine percent. In Chiradzulu, where the rate is 17 percent, MSF has been supporting HIV care for 15 years. Our focus is on vulnerable groups, such as children, adolescents, and patients whose first- and second-line antiretroviral (ARV) treatments are failing. 

In Blantyre, MSF works with Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital to treat cervical cancer, a major public health issue due to high rates of HIV co-infection and inadequate screening and care. The programme includes health promotion, screening, surgery, chemotherapy and palliative care for advanced-stage cancer.

 

4,010

4,01

people on second or further-line ARV treatment in MSF-supported programmes

310

31

people started on treatment for TB

In 2020, COVID-19 forced reductions in our activity, although Malawi did not see a significant number of cases until the end of the year when a second wave hit. MSF supported the national response to the pandemic by assisting with infection prevention and control, triage, health promotion, and patient care at Nsanje district hospital.

In 2020, we closed or handed over to local authorities and community organisations three projects dedicated to specific groups: the advanced HIV project in rural Nsanje district to improve detection and treatment at community level, hospital care, and follow-up; our Chichiri prison project, which offered preventive tuberculosis (TB) treatment to over 1,000 patients through regular screenings, treatment and management of co-infections; and a female sex worker project, which implemented an innovative, peer-led approach, allowing almost 7,000 women to access HIV, TB and sexual and reproductive health services in the community, and one-stop clinics in Neno, Dedza and Nsanje districts.

No. staff in 2020: 492 (FTE) » Expenditure in 2020: €9.1 million MSF first worked in the country: 1986 

Activities Around the World
 
Lita arriving at Nsanje District Hospital. [Photo: Isabel Corthier/MSF]
HIV/AIDS

Gerrald and Lita

Stories from the Frontline 2 Dec 2019
 
Malawi - Advanced HIV[Photo: Isabel Corthier/MSF]
HIV/AIDS

Empowering patients to reach an HIV-free Malawi

Stories from the Frontline 2 Dec 2019
 
Manfred being helped to go to the Ndamera Health Centre while some of his friends are seeing him off. [Photo: Isabel Corthier/MSF]
HIV/AIDS

Manfred Luka

Stories from the Frontline 2 Dec 2019
 
Kingsley Makwale MSF clinician examining Aisha at Mbenje Health Centre [Photo: Isabel Corthier/MSF]
HIV/AIDS

“No time to lose”: AIDS deaths toll stagnating due to lack of basic testing at community level

Press Release 2 Dec 2019
 
Cover of " No time to lose: Detect, Treat and Prevent AIDS"
HIV/AIDS

NO TIME TO LOSE: DETECT, TREAT AND PREVENT AIDS

Reports 2 Dec 2019
 
MSF and TB activists disrupt opening of TB conference to protest drug corporations keeping life-saving medicines from people
Access to medicines

MSF and TB activists disrupt opening of TB conference to protest drug corporations keeping life-saving medicines from people

Press Release 31 Oct 2019