World Aids bosses can joke :Goosby and Kazachikine

I last blogged on World Aids Day 2009, so a happy new year to you all. The same day I travelled to Balaka where an HIV positive woman told me a story which would shake the politicians and semi politicians in public service who claim to be doing alot in the field of HIV and Aids.

Of course it was quite a week, I met US Global Aids Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby who was more of a diplomat and did not bring any new pledges. I felt minus the mutlimillion kwacha building he opened as HIV unit in Lilongwe,the rest was a public relations tour. The US president initiative on HIV/Aids known as PEPFAR rightly secluded Malawi from its initial support to countries.
The head of Global Fund Kazachikne was also in Malawi and I joined the two top funders of HIV and Aids fund to a tour of some of the ARV distribution centres. They were impressed with service delivery at Kang'oma health centre but shocked to learn that when a pregnant woman test HIV positive they travel about 20 kilometres to Kawale ARV centre to access PMCT or therapy.
From Kang'oma we travelled to Kawale and I had an opportunity to ask them what they would do about scaling up. Nobody spoke of any figure but they were only committed to helping.
The biggest HIV joke came from reports that Malawi's application for special NSA funding was denied after it did not contain how the country will incorporate risky groups identified as prostitutes and gays.
My foot, heteresexual relationships accounts for85 percent of HIV transmission, then mother to child before ending with blood transfusion.
The two jokers need to realise that the impact of Aids is great and there is a need for Malawi to charter its own path in prevention and mitigating AIDS challenge.
If they dont have funds, let them stop the PR tours which raise hope among the poor.
Even China has been funded leaving Malawi after only 7 qualified to the last round, Global Fund is playing jokes over peoples lives!

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