New HIV infections in Malawi fell from 60,000 a year in 2010 to 14,000 in 2025, a drop of 76 percent, the National AIDS Commission (NAC) said at a media briefing in Lilongwe on Friday, Nyasa Times reported.
That is still 14,000 people infected each year. NAC’s new target is 6,000 a year by 2030, and it is worried that many men only get tested once they are already sick.
Key facts
- New infections: 60,000 in 2010, 14,000 in 2025 (down 76%)
- AIDS-related deaths: 36,000 down to 13,000 a year
- Mother-to-child transmission: 40% down to 6%
- 2030 target: 6,000 new infections a year
The numbers
New HIV infections a year
2010 60,000→2025 14,000
Target: 6,000 by 2030
AIDS-related deaths a year
2010 36,000→2025 13,000
Mother-to-child transmission
2010 40%→2025 6%
NAC monitoring and evaluation officer Shadreck Sulani presented the figures. “The progress we are seeing demonstrates the impact of the interventions that have been implemented over the years,” he said. NAC chief executive Tione Chilambe said Malawi is moving towards the 95-95-95 targets by 2030.
What 95-95-95 means
These are the global UNAIDS goals: 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of them are on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment have the virus suppressed. People whose treatment keeps the virus undetectable do not pass HIV on through sex.
The worry: men test late
Chilambe also warned that many men only seek an HIV test after they develop symptoms, Malawi24 reported. Late diagnosis makes early treatment harder and slows progress towards the 2030 goal. NAC has asked the media to push for more men to test voluntarily.
Where to get tested
You can get an HIV test at public hospitals and health centres across the country. Do not wait until you feel ill. Partners can test together, and pregnant women are tested as part of antenatal care, which is a big part of why mother-to-child transmission fell to 6 percent.
