MMN Sept 25 Mag Online - Flipbook - Page 7
HIV Testing and Care
Early detec琀椀on saves lives. Lifeline Malawi tests more than 5,400
people for HIV each year, reaching
remote and underserved areas.
Consistent outreach has helped
reduce the local HIV rate from 3%
to 1% over four years. When someone tests posi琀椀ve, almost all begin
treatment immediately, thanks to
Lifeline’s rapid follow-up.
Today, 1,452 clients are receiving
HIV care at the rural health facility.
Alongside life-saving an琀椀retroviral
therapy, they receive nutri琀椀onal
support, emo琀椀onal encouragement, and spiritual counsel. Mothers who are HIV-posi琀椀ve are closely followed to ensure their children
receive 琀椀mely care and the best
chance of living free from the virus.
Fear and s琀椀gma s琀椀ll stop many
from tes琀椀ng, but Lifeline’s consistent, caring presence has built trust.
In each conversa琀椀on, health workers have an opportunity not only
to explain the importance of treatment but also to share the deeper
hope found in Christ.
Tackling Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis remains one of Malawi’s deadliest diseases, especially in
rural areas where symptoms are often ignored or misdiagnosed. From
March 2024 to April 2025, Lifeline
collected 583 sputum samples,
iden琀椀fying TB in 8% of cases - up
from 6% the year before, showing
progress in reaching undiagnosed
pa琀椀ents.
The Reach Out and Touch programme at Lifeline Malawi cares for
some of our TB pa琀椀ents with more
than medica琀椀on and nutri琀椀onal rehabilita琀椀on. The team make home
visits, to support people through
the long months of treatment.
People like Yohane Mwale, a
49-year-old father of four, know
what this means. Living 12km from
the clinic, Yohane was diagnosed
with TB and HIV but was severely malnourished. For two weeks,
Lifeline provided nutri琀椀on before
safely star琀椀ng his treatment. His
recovery was steady but sure. Today, Yohane is back in his 昀椀elds,
tending his crops, and providing
for his family: his voice strong
again as he speaks openly of God’s
provision in his 琀椀me of need.
Cervical Cancer
In Malawi, cervical cancer claims
too many lives because women are
diagnosed far too late. Poverty, lack
of awareness, and long travel distances all play a role. Lifeline Malawi o昀昀ers screening at its clinic and
through outreach, and for those
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