Golden Model Youth Club Champions Anti-Corruption & HIV Medication Uptake in Malawi's Mulanje District
Beyond these two vital projects, the Golden Model Youth Club, established on January 2, 2023, is also engaged in irrigation farming as an income-generating activity for the group.
Mulanje, Malawi — In Mulanje, within the heart of Malawi, a group of impassioned youth from the Golden Model Youth Club is currently raising awareness of the urgent necessity to eradicate corruption and promote HIV medication adherence among young people, writes Brenda Pensulo.
Supported fervently by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Family Health Services (FHS), these initiatives are taking root.
This commendable endeavour is currently unfolding within Traditional Authority Chikumbu in Mulanje district.
The youth have been actively engaging with the local community, conducting awareness meetings on two critical fronts: firstly, to encourage the youth to recognise, prevent, and report corrupt practices, and secondly, to emphasize the importance of consistent HIV medication intake for maintaining a healthy life.
The inclusion of an HIV/AIDS program in their mission stems from a stark realisation - many young people in the area who test positive for HIV feel ashamed to collect their medication from public health facilities.
This reluctance not only endangers their lives but also poses a risk to those they interact with.
Bernard Masubi, the patron of the Golden Model Youth Club, sheds light on the overarching goals of these projects.
He highlights their alignment with the Malawi Vision 2063, which aims to eliminate corruption. On the health front, their objective is crystal clear - to disseminate as much information as possible, empowering individuals in the area to make informed decisions, particularly regarding HIV/AIDS.
Recognizing that some individuals cannot afford to obtain their Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) treatment at public health facilities due to personal reasons, the club, with support from FHS, has collaborated with select private hospitals.
This partnership ensures that people can access treatment in a more private and comfortable setting, further encouraging consistent treatment adherence.
Masubi elaborates on their mission: "We are creating awareness for people to realize that they can also access their treatment in some selected private facilities, for them to remain healthy, contributing to the betterment of the community and the country as a whole."
FHS is actively implementing this project in collaboration with the Golden Model Club under the EPIC Decentralized Distribution of Drugs Project, which aims to boost the uptake of essential drugs among the youth.
Aubrey Matabwa, a member of the same organization, highlights the positive impact of the project, stating that many individuals in the area are benefiting from the shared information.
However, he also calls for more organizations to support these initiatives to expand the club's reach and provide relevant information to even more people.
He notes, "We are grateful for the training we received from the ACB because many people here indulge in corrupt practices which they have normalized as their daily living. So we needed to educate them about the evils of this vice, how they can prevent it and report it."
Dave Manjawira, the ACB Public Education Officer, expresses the bureau's satisfaction with the youth's involvement in the fight against corruption in the country.
He highlights how their efforts are crucial in spreading awareness about corruption in areas that the ACB has not yet reached.
He adds, "Some people think that issues of corruption only target the adult population and not the youth. But when we talk about Malawi Vision 2063 or Agenda 2030, the youth will be there at that time. So it is crucial to work with them, providing information on corruption prevention, to ensure they do not engage in malpractice when their time comes."
Regarding the ART treatment agenda, Joana Bakali, the Social Franchise Coordinator at Family Health Services (Lilongwe), lauds the young people for taking it upon themselves to sensitise their peers about the risks of missing treatment.
She expresses their pleasure in collaborating with this group as it actively promotes the uptake of Antiretrovirals (ARVs), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
"These young people have taken it upon themselves to sensitise their peers about the perils of skipping treatment. We are delighted to work with this group as they actively promote the uptake of ARVs, PEP, and PrEP," she says.
Beyond these two vital projects, the Golden Model Youth Club, established on January 2, 2023, is also engaged in irrigation farming as an income-generating activity for the group.
This inspiring initiative is not only combating corruption and promoting health but also fostering a sense of community and resilience among Malawi's youth, paving the way for a brighter and more informed future.