Ubumbano Voice
By Mike Van Kamande Mana
Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (Manerela+) says service providers should provide sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) services to everyone including the Key Population if the war against HIV/Aids is to be won.
Speaking on Saturday in Dedza during a dialogue session between service providers and members of the Key Population Manerela+ project manager Harold Kachepatsonga said no one should be left behind in the fight against the pandemic.
“The Key Population shun services in most public facilities because service providers’ attitude is averse to friendly health service provision. One of the challenges the Key Population in Dedza face is the shortage of lubricants which are crucial for their sexual activities.
“The danger is that although small when Key Population HIV prevalence is high it has a multiplier effect on the prevalence of the general population. One of the outcomes of the meeting is that Family Planning Association of Malawi (Fpam) has a lot of lubricants. This only shows the importance of collaboration among service providers,” Kachepatsonga said.
Fpam district manager for Dedza Cynthia Chikoya said her organisation provides integrated SRHR services to key population in Dedza without being judgemental.
“These services are accessible at our static clinics or through moonlights where our service providers visit the key population right in their hotspots. Condoms and lubricants are distributed, cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections and TB screening and family planning services are provided,” she said.
Manerela+ in consortium with CHRR, Cedep and Fpam are implementing ‘Bodily Autonomy and Integrity’ project with funding from Aids Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (Arasa).
