By Chilungamo Missi

Chiradzulu, January 23, Mana: Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (COWLHA) is geared to address the needs of children living with HIV in Chiradzulu through a newly approved council project dubbed Bringing Kids Living with HIV to Care.

COWLHA Programmes Manager, Harry Madukani made the remarks on Tuesday during a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting where he introduced the new project.

Madukani said the two-year project targets under 14 children saying, for a long time, HIV response for the age group has been neglected.

The project has four components, the first of which is testing.

“We will be going into the communities using mentor mothers and community health workers to identify and test the children for HIV,” said Madukani.

He said once tested positive, children will be referred to health facilities so that they can be put into care and ensure that those that are on treatment do not default.

The project will also support pregnant and lactating mothers.

Apart from Chiradzulu, the project will be implemented in Thyolo and Nkhata Bay districts which have been selected based on the highest percentage of pediatric HIV infections.

“As of June 2023 Directorate of HIV, STI and viral Hepatitis in Chiradzulu registered 1,832 kids under 14 years,” said Madukani.

Chiradzulu District Hospital Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Coordinator, Carol Chipanda, underscored the importance of the project in the district saying Ministry of Health has intensified efforts to reach the youth through youth friendly services in the district where HIV testing and counseling services, among others, are offered.

Chiradzulu District Principal Nutrition, HIV and AIDS Officer, Loveness Chikumba, said the project will be impactful in the district because the organization, in collaboration with the council, has previously implemented successful activities on community AIDS groups.

COWLHA will implement the project in the district through Foundation for Community Support Organization which is based in Traditional Authority (TA) Mpama in the district.