Malawi is still grappling with one of the most devastating HIV and AIDS epidemics in this part of Africa. In the past few years Malawi has expanded and accelerated its response and has been able to diversify both interventions and organizations participating in this response. With advent of treatment and programmes to prevent vertical transmission of HIV testing has become a major part of the prevention and care continuum.

However,Director of policy and Programing in the National Aids Commission (NAC) Roy Hauya said a lot more work needs to be done in testing. We know that of its 10 million people, of which 6 million are sexually active, only 15 percent have tested for HIV and know their status.

In a statement release to all media houses,Hauya said Malawi has 930,000 people that are living with HIV, but the majority are unaware of their HIV status. "This situation poses a great threat to prevention efforts and results in missed opportunities by many HIV infected Malawians to access care and support services", He said.

Against this background, National AIDS Commission, Ministry of Health, development partners and non-governmental organizations have organized a National HIV Testing Week from 17th to 22nd July 2006 to benefit many Malawians who have not tested for HIV.

This event is expected to mobilize all communities and offer individuals and couples an opportunity to test for HIV and be counselled. The activity has been designed in line with the National HIV and AIDS Policy and it contributes significantly to the implementation of the national efforts at scaling HIV testing and counselling and to achieve the goal of testing one million people by the end of 2007.

Hauya said the week among other things offers an opportunity to over 50,000 people to know their HIV status by the end of the week and facilitate change in risk behaviour and link persons to other HIV and AIDS services

Below find more information provided by the National Aids commission

Who should come along?
The campaign will target men, women and young people of reproductive age group 15-49 years. Youths and married couples in this age group will particularly be encouraged to test. However, access for those aged above 49 years or children below 14 years will not be limited. According to policy, children below 14 years will be allowed to test if accompanied by a guardian and they give consent.

What basic logistics are in place?
HIV testing sites have been set up to take an increased number of clients. Additional counsellors have been trained and mobilized and all supplies, notably rapid testing kits, have been distributed to districts. There are currently 239 such sites countrywide, but depending on demand each district will set up additional outreach or mobile sites at places like markets, schools, churches or mosques. All testing sites will be required to meet minimum operational and infection prevention standards. At the same time each site will make referrals for management and further support as need be.

Assemblies, district health offices civil society organizations will mobilize all trained counsellors to work full time during the entire week. Currently there are 963 trained HIV counsellors nationwide, 543 of them working full time and 420 on part time. Testing will be voluntary and anonymous. Those testing positive will be linked to available post-test care and support services within their districts.

It is expected that even after the campaign all sites will continue providing full time services to serve those who were not able to access the services. This will take care of negative clients who may have been in the window period and wish to be re-tested after three months.

What future plans are in place?
While this national testing and week is the first of its kind in Malawi, the plan is to make the event annual in order to continue to mobilize communities and to give opportunity to individuals and couples to know their HIV status.