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Malawi and HIV/AIDS:
 Map of Malawi HIV-AIDS has ravaged and continues to ravage communities in Malawi and Africa. At least 15% of Malawi population is HIV positive. More than 60% of all HIV-AIDS cases are amongst the most productive population group of 16 – 45 years age group. HIV-AIDS poses as the biggest development challenge for all communities in Malawi. The youth and adolescents are particularly vulnerable. Poverty levels are extremely high, with more than 65% population living less than 1 pound a day. The economy is basically subsistence with over 80% of the population depending on subsistence agriculture. Persistent droughts, poor technology and the dwindling labour force as HIV-AIDS deaths are mounting have led to further decrease in household income. Life of the youth is idle and absolutely dormant. The youth and adolescents do not have active lifestyles due to lack of economic means to attain them. HIV-AIDS awareness activities are being undertaken at national level by use of mass media: radio and newspapers. But these are not accessible to most people. In an environment of extreme poverty, idleness and lack of proper information, the youth are exposed to the lifestyles that put them at the risk of catching HIV-AIDS. Recent data from HIV-AIDS testing centres in Malawi are showing that more than 60% of new HIV-AIDS infections are occurring among the young in the age group 16 – 24 years. In TA Phambala in Ntcheu district, HIV-AIDS has devastated the livelihoods of many families. Years of both neglect and inaction resulted in the widespread of the problem. The area is currently having a prevalence rate of 17%, that is 3% higher than the national average; at least 1,000 orphans under the age of 16 years have emerged from the loss of parents over the last 5 – 7 years. Despite this gloomy picture, TA Phambala has until late had had no any concrete and concerted action to address the problem. Basic statistics of Ta Phambala
| Total Population (1998 Census): | 47,238
| | Proportion of TA Phambala population to Ntcheu District: | 12,7% | | Total Population below 20 years: | 26,043 (55%) | | Youth and Adolescents in age group 12 – 24 years: | 9,693 | | Female Population in reproductive age group 12 – 54 years: | 15,000 | | HIV AIDS Prevalence in 15 – 54 years age group: | 17% |
(source: Kapeni VCT Centre user statistics, Nov 2005) Impact of HIV – AIDS on children in Malawi:  Ruth with two orphans left by her sister HIV-AIDS has dramatically reduced the production capacity of most families, as most of the deaths have been affecting the economically active age group of 16 – 54 years. The orphans left behind have been absorbed by the extended family system that is already compounded by multiple problems of low productivity, disease and dwindling labour force. According to 1998 Malawi Population and Housing Census (MPHC), the rural average family size is 4.8. The addition of orphans increases the burden to already resource stretched families. The 1998 MPHC census also showed that 90% of the deaths were occurring among the population under 65 years, thus the economically active population. Consequently, the increasing numbers of orphans have to be supported by old people. In TA Phambala all these problems are evident. HIV-AIDS has ravaged TA Phambala for more than ten years. Over all this period no concerted response has been undertaken either to mitigate further prevalence of the HIV or attend to the mounting problems that the HIV-AIDS pandemic has created and is creating. |
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