Malawi gays have right to health care –AG
Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale has said homosexuals will not be discriminated against when accessing healthcare despite the existing anti-gay law.
Kaphale said this in defending government’s move to request $388 888 (about K221 million) from Global Fund for HIV and Aids interventions targeting 40 000 men who have sex with fellow men. Lesbians – women who have sex with fellow women – have been excluded in the package.
The AG said that all people, gay or otherwise, should get full access to medical treatment just like government provides health care services for other citizens that have violated the law.
Malawi government is asking for the money targetting about 40 000 homosexual men with testing, counselling, treatment, condoms and prevention of risky behaviour programmes.
Kaphale said all people whether they are sexual orientation as gays or otherwise are at complete liberty to get full treatment, as they also pay tax just like any other Malawian.
Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume urged gay people to be honest with healthcare workers, particularly when discussing treatment for HIV.
Kumpalume assured that health workers will live up to their ethics of “keeping confidentiality of their patients.”
President Peter Mutharika on Thursday received a grant of $332 million from international aid organisation The Global Fund in Lilongwe, Malawi’s administrative capital to fight AIDS and other diseases, bringing much-needed support to a nation wrestling with public health problems.
Malawi has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, straining the impoverished country’s healthcare system and economy.
The grant would enable Malawi to provide HIV treatment for 745,000 patients by the end of 2017, the Global Fund said in a statement.
The money came from donors including the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.
While Malawi has made significant gains in combatting AIDS, it still registers hundreds of new HIV infections every week.
Malawi has trimmed the national HIV prevalence rate from over 12 per cent in 2004 to 10 per cent in 2014.
Western countries and local civil society organisations (CSOs) have been campaigning that Malawi should legalise homosexuality.
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They Say its You right”but they aint gays”
U mean Malawi is now Sodom and Gomora
Chakwera lazarus where are you pliz!!!!
Kkkkkk koma umphawi si zinthu – apa zikuoneselatu kuti bomaa la malawi linavomeleza kuti amuna azigonana okha okha olo akazi chimodzi modzi
hehehe mwangofuna ndalamazo kuti muzidye anyani inu. when did u do the survey identifying 40,000 MSM in Malawi?
In what circumstance is one supposed to disclose their sexual orientation before getting treatment in Malawi.. These are all lies sir. Sounds to me like a staged thing to show that the current govt has turned a blind eye on the gay issue so that you should be given the grant. Let’s be honest last i checked homesexuality is illegal in Malawi, what does the subtle support based on this mean? Be serious politicians and just come out in the open on your stand regarding this issue whether Malawians like it or not at least will be commenting based on… Read more »
Zauchitsilu osapeza njira zina bwanji zopezera ndalama kapena mutalimbikira kulima chamba chija mutha kupeza ndalama moyenera koma mukupepha zinthu zoti olo Mulungu adakana ndi pachiyambi pomwe,amene akuyambitsa komaso kuvomeleza zimenezi adziwe kuti akunyoza Mulungu.Kupalamura ng’anjo ya moto mabwana adziko lapasi.
I dont get it? You mean if openly tell that am gay and seek medical advice i wont be arrested?
Nkhuku yaimuna singapange banja ndi yachimunayizake, ngakhale ng’ombe singapange chigololo ndiyayimunayizake. Ndiye munthu wamoyo wazeluzake nkumapanga chigololo ndimamunamzake simisala imeneyo, dziko lapansi likutha.
Hypcrite Govt!!!!Kill dem bamboklut LGBTs!!!
Correct me guys! Nkhani pa chichewa ndiye kuti boma lapempha ndalama dzothandidzira anthu a yakumbuyo? So that being the case then the government is simply telling us that this practice is legal, therefore the government is wrong to give the impression gayism and lesbianism is illegal. Therefore problems will not end in this country because the anger of God is too much therefore Pitala should resign so that i come in.