Malawian children out of HIV care

Madalitso Kateta, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi Photo: Roel Burglar
Malawian children appealed to the government to review policies that would make more anti-retroviral drugs available to HIV/AIDS positive children. They said adults have been given preference at the expense of them. The call was made at the close of the 7th Malawi Children's Parliament in Lilongwe.
A resolution passed by the children parliamentarians observed that children have been given a raw deal in the Malawi National HIV/AIDS Response Programmes. Most Malawian hospitals taking care of HIV/AIDS patients have run out of stock of ARVs.

“Considering the devastating effects and untold misery that HIV/AIDS is having on Malawian children the seventh children’s parliament observes that there are a lot of areas that the government needs to handle in order to address the children’s suffering,” read part of the resolution.

The young parliamentarians also bemoaned little participation of children in the response towards the HIV/AIDS pandemic although the young generation is at greater risk of contracting the virus.

“As much as government and other stakeholders are doing anything possible in coming up with policies to reduce the prevalence rate and effects of the pandemic, the participation of children in the policy development is still minimal,” they noted.

While shedding concern on the increasing HIV infections among the younger generation, the junior parliament alerted the government of the irresponsible behavior of some adults, who could be blamed for the increasing infections in the youthful generation.

Meanwhile Plan Malawi, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Every Child and World Vision International – sponsors of the junior parliament - have partnered with others to protect the rights of children.