The Malawi Police through Kanengo station in the capital Lilongwe has joined the bandwagon of the country’s civil societies’ call for the ministry of health to quickly formulate the policy which will facilitate those diagnosed with the virus start receiving
antiretroviral therapy (ART) earlier that later in a bid to contain the viral load.
On September 8, 2015 the CSOs which included MANET +, CEDEP, MANASO, MANERELA+, CHRR, AVAC, JONEHA, SAT, MHEN and COWLHA endorsed the policy brief with recommendation for government to act immediately.
Currently reports are rife that most people diagnosed with HIV are told to wait until their CD4 count is reduced to below 500 which consequently led to deteriorating of their condition that eventually to death upon taking the ART much later.
Speaking in an interview with the Maravi Post on Tuesday, September 15, Priest Mpemba, Kanengo Police station HIV/AIDS Coordinator echoed the civil societies’ call saying the law enforcers would also benefit.
“Police officers also remain vulnerable to HIV/AIDS pandemic as some of them have been tested positive but are advised to wait until their CD4 counts lowers. This has also worsens their health conditions which has catalysed deaths upon late responding to the treatment.
“One might have low CD4 count but not feet for ART while some theirs counts are high but not feet for treatment. So, with these circumstances the policy might harmonize them all which will save many lives. Malawi police services need health officers for continual
provision of security for the general public lives and properties”, said Mpemba.
Mpemba said Kanengo police station has intensified provision of training to its newly recruited officers on HIV/AIDS that they be responsible with their lives while on duties because were usually tempted with sex workers.
“With 100 newly recruited police officers posted here, it was worth to impart them with knowledge on the deadly pandemic. This will help them to live responsibly while are on duties. We have many orphans in the services due to impact of HIV/AIDS pandemic.
“Although, there is much effort to reach many officer on HIV/AIDS pandemic capacity building for the station’s units including Mtema, Lumbadzi, Chiwamba, Msungwi, Area 28, 29 and 49, resources aren’t enough hence the call for more support, materially and financially for VCT and ART service programmes”, urges Mpemba.
Based on Ministry of Health data , by 2013, approximately one million Malawians were living with HIV such that end of June 2014, half of them were on ART .Currently, Malawi has almost reached the UNAIDS target of 90-90-90 among pregnant and breastfeeding women which has resulted into 66% of babies being born HIV free.
However, similar studies have revealed that police officer are second from sex workers with high prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS for about 75% which according to health experts is worrying situation.
