Malawi Begins Weeklong Nationwide HIV Testing Campaign

Malawi on Monday launched a weeklong HIV testing campaign that is expected to reach more than 50,000 people ages 14 to 49, AFP/Yahoo! News reports. Nicholas Chitimba, chair of the National AIDS Commission, said that more than 240 sites and roughly 1,000 counselors have been designated to conduct HIV tests throughout the week. Health Minister Marjorie Ngaunje said the country's HIV/AIDS prevention efforts could be undermined if people do not determine their HIV status. About 15% of the country's 12 million people have been tested for HIV, according to AFP/Yahoo! News. The campaign is part of a larger goal to test one million Malawians by the end of 2007, Chitimba said. By the end of 2005, about 930,000 people in the country were reported to be HIV-positive, AFP/Yahoo! News reports (AFP/Yahoo! News, 7/17).