MALAWI: Week-long HIV testing campaign begins

Malawi launched a week-long HIV testing campaign on Monday, amid concerns that anti-AIDS efforts were being hampered by people not knowing their status.

Health Minister Marjorie Ngaunje said in the administrative capital, Lilongwe, that the situation posed a great threat to prevention efforts, including missed opportunities by many HIV-positive Malawians to access care and treatment services.

Agence France-Presse quoted Ngaunje as saying, "It is about staying negative if you are not infected, or taking advantage of the treatment, care and support services available throughout the country if you are HIV-positive."

The effort, which is expected to reach over 50,000 citizens, follows official statistics showing that only 15 percent of the 12 million population had been tested for HIV.

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