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Radio Report Sparks Action Against HIV Stigma in Malawi Village
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
When Mudzi Wathu Community Radio did a story about a young man in a remote village in Malawi facing discrimination because he is living with HIV, the local chief was listening.
Chief Gumba in Mchinji district decided to intervene on behalf of 22-year-old Damiano Kuseni.
Damiano, who has been HIV-positive since 2023 and recently disclosed his status, lives with his aunt after losing both parents. He told the radio audience that she often speaks harshly when he needs help or asks for nutritious food and he says the 13-mile trek to the clinic causes him to miss getting the drugs he needs regularly to fight HIV.
When chief Gumba heard about Damiano’s situation he took action. "I personally visited his relatives, his aunt in particular, and I talked to her and told her that they must stop mistreating Damiano like the way they are doing," the chief stated. "I even told them to take full responsibility for making sure that Damiano is properly following his dosage, and they agreed."
Speaking to Mudzi Wathu radio, Damiano’s aunt, Catherine Chirenje admitted past failings and committed to change. "I cannot deny the fact that we were not doing good to Damiano," she said. "The chief has told us clearly that we should be taking responsibility for him, and the advice he has given us will really help us to change. For example, Chief Gumba has advised us to stop having the mentality that if one has HIV then it means the end of life. That’s wrong. If the person is properly taken care of they can have a long life maybe even longer than someone that doesn’t have HIV."
Chief Gumba is now partnering with community health volunteers, leaders, and churches to support stigmatized youth and has asked health workers to make sure Damiano gets his medications.
The chief is also keeping tabs on the young man to make sure his family continues to take care of him.