People in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mzukuzuku in Mzimba District have bemoaned lack of privacy when accessing HIV and Aids services at Mabiri Health Centre. They expressed the concerns on Tuesday during a meeting with duty-bearers organised by Malawi Network of Aids Service Organisations (Manaso) under its Community Systems Strengthening Project. Mabiri Scorecard Committee member Mercy Nkhata said healthcare officers were allegedly violating people’s right to privacy by revealing their HIV status.
She said: “Firstly, we are concerned because there is no privacy and confidentiality among healthcare workers at the facility. They reveal HIV status of those who have tested positive or receiving treatment. People have stopped going to the facility as a result.
“Further, the health facility allocates Wednesdays for people living with HIV to collect anti-retroviral therapy drugs at the clinic. This, again, is wrong because once people see someone at the clinic on Group village head Mapupo Ndhlovu asked officials to address the issue. “We want to see discrimination against patients on treatment for HIV, tuberculosis [TB] and malaria to stop because it affects them and they end up defaulting treatment,” he said.
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“As management, we will investigate the issue and discipline our workers. Health personnel have the obligation to not reveal information of any patient,” he said. Manaso project officer Benjamin Mwamvani said their project introduced community scorecard programme to ensure community members follow up on health issues that affects them in their respective communities.
He said: “Community involvement is the cornerstone of a resilient health system. “Through these structures, we have seen real progress in addressing HIV, TB and malaria treatment.” The project, running from 2024 to 2027, is being funded by Global Fund through World Vision Malawi in the district.
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