Article By: Tenson Tembo
National Aids Commission (NAC) has said only healthy farmer can contribute positively to the development of the country, in particular tobacco industry.
Speaking during press briefing Wednesday in Lilongwe ahead of World HIV/ Aids Day commemoration and sensitization, Director of HIV/Aids in the ministry of healthy Mallium Mangochi said government priority and role is to promoting the health of citizen by providing drugs, health services and food.
She said: “Realizing it is only a health being that can fully attend to farming thoroughly, we have also targeted farmers in our HIV/Aids policy obligation. We fully believe that if we propagate issues of HIV/Aids to farmers and other stakeholders, we will maximize farming produce”,
Among the interventions the government is implementing as part of policy is urging farmers to go for VCT. “The beauty of going for testing is that you live positively after knowing your status, if you don’t have the virus you will make sure you don’t get it. If you are found positive then you get the right medication to prolong life and also eat the right food”, lamented Mangochi
She said government had included Mulanje in the sensitization campaign as the district has 23,000 farmers whom grow Tobacco, HIV prevalence rate is at 20% or higher in Blantyre, Mangochi, Thyolo and Mulanje. “Apart from the farmers, our policy which was launched back will be commemorated on 1st December 2015 at Chisitu Primary School ground, which will includes other stakeholders such as transporters, drivers, graders and buyers”, she said.
Acting Director for National Aids Commission (NAC) Davie Kalomba hailed government for being inclusive of other stakeholders in its policy.
“I urge all farmers present and all of us here not just to be spectators to this event, let us take the messages from the entertainment very seriously. We should change our bad behaviours”, he concurred.
He said it is very sad that Malawi is losing lots of educated and skilled citizens because of HIV/Aids, and said some of the deaths would have been avoided if people went for VCT hence achieving 90-90-90(1st 90 for knowing status, 2nd 90 for early treatment and last 90 for achieving Vaccine suppression) campaign in reducing the pandemic.
The World HIV/Aids Day will be addressed by Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume, and different activities and skills ranging from drama, poet, music and traditional dances will be showcased.
