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Abstract:
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The 2012 Malawi Global AIDS Response Progress Report is based on comprehensive data on both the status of, and response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic and the future directions as detailed in the 2011 United Nations Political Declaration on AIDS. The Declaration has planned for a dramatic reshaping of the AIDS responses by setting bold targets to achieve Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths. This progress report covers four areas, namely: (i) Policy, laws and regulations (the NCPI); (ii) The financial sources and expenditure; (iii) Core indicators; and (iv) A narrative summary with details on achievements and challenges in Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support; Impact Mitigation; Management, Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation. UNAIDS has developed guidelines for monitoring the progress towards achieving the targets set in the 2011 UN Political Declaration on AIDS and for the development and compilation of country progress reports consisting of a narrative report and also indicator data. There are ‘Core indicators’ for the Global AIDS Response Progress Report, with methods for collecting, constructing and analysing data. The guidelines also have discussions on indicator’s strengths and weaknesses. Based on the strategic plan, the nation’s goals, objectives, actual achievements and challenges are the issues that are supposed to be contained in the progress report in addition to the assessment of whether or not the national AIDS response has had an impact on HIV prevalence and AIDS-related deaths, how large that impact has been, and who has benefited or not and to acquire an in-depth insight into the experiences gained by implementing partners and beneficiaries. The findings of the progress report will help to inform evidence-based policy making and contribute to future HIV and AIDS programming. The progress report for Malawi was coordinated by NAC, with support from the country’s UNAIDS office. The report was compiled by two independent consultants who reviewed existing reports for the period 2010–2011, collected data on core indicators and had discussions on HIV and AIDS challenges and responses that need further action, and also areas needing scaling-up. As part of compiling this report, discussions were conducted with various stakeholders in the national HIV and AIDS response. These discussions focused on their understanding of factors that influenced the development and implementation of HIV and AIDS interventions and implications and challenges experienced in the various thematic areas of the national response and how these challenges can be addressed. Consultations were held with Government of Malawi (GoM) officials at national and district levels, staff from the National AIDS Commission (NAC), civil society organisations (CSOs) including development partners and the UN agencies, the private sector and key population groups such as People Living with HIV (PLHIV), Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and sex workers. |