Breaking the barriers of key populations in Malawi

By Martha Chikoti

Sefula Mayefula 32, a male sex worker from Mangochi, has faced numerous challenges in accessing HIV and AIDS services.

Some key populations are facing the hardest stigma in Malawi PIC courtesy of GAN

Mayefula who is based in Mangochi, told this publication that he and others like him face discrimination and stigma, which has motivated him to fight for the rights of LGBTQ people.

"There was a time I was denied healthcare with my partner because of the way my partner looked.

"It was painful and made me feel powerless. However, the Community Health Rights Advocacy (CheRA) helped me by providing access to LGBTQ-friendly services and teaching me about my rights," said Mayefula

CheRA's programs gave me the strength and knowledge to stand up for myself and help others facing similar issues."

Mayefula added that he was inspired to make a difference and help others in similar situations because CheRA supported him by providing opportunities to lead projects and a safe platform to raise awareness and advocate for change.

According to Mayefula , one success story is about a peer educator who attended CheRA's training and now works as a district officer. Another success story is about a trans woman who, with CheRA's help, received healthcare and legal support after being discriminated against. These stories demonstrate how CheRA empowers people to improve their lives and help others.

Executive Director of CheRA, Aniz Mitha, said that the organization works from the community, strengthening the capacity of the target population to identify, report, document, and lead interventions.

"This is a primary strategy to ensure that the affected target population is not left behind," Mitha explained.

Mitha added that there are multi-faceted approaches to monitoring and evaluation.

"Key is the in-built monitoring and knowledge management activities that are conducted monthly and quarterly by our implementing teams.

"We also have management-level supervision, followed by donor-level monitoring visits," said Mitha.

Additionally, we have embedded ourselves under CSO umbrella bodies that conduct regular community-led monitoring, among other evaluation activities.

"We are also under regulatory and coordinating bodies that look into the evaluation of our work annually," he said.

Mitha noted that the legal environment in Malawi makes it difficult for targeted populations to come out and access CheRA's interventions for fear of being arrested.

"Most funding available is tied to HIV interventions, which cripples other areas that require support, such as socio-economic empowerment, livelihood, education, and human rights advocacy," said Mitha.

Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Samson Mndolo, said that the ministry does not discriminate against anyone when it comes to the provision of health services.

CheRA, with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through the SCALE initiative, is implementing a 10-month project called the Key Populations Integrated HIV and Human Rights Project (KPIHIVR).

The project aims to advance and reinforce key population-led strategies, tactics, and approaches to counter discriminatory and punitive laws, policies, and practices in Malawi.

In line with the National HIV Strategic Plan Extended for 2023-2027, Malawi has prioritized interventions aimed at addressing structural barriers that increase the vulnerability of key populations, such as female sex workers and male sex workers.

The project aligns with the strategic pillar Reducing Human Rights and Gender-related Barriers.

In the face of the criminalization of minority rights, including those of male sex workers, CheRA strategically advocates for the decriminalization of these rights, aligning with international, regional, and national commitments.

Currently, as a sub-awardee of the USAID-PEPFAR under the projects Meeting Targets to Maintain Epidemic Control (EpiC) program and PEPFAR Small Grants Program, CheRA operates within a 5-year long initiative (2019-2024), funded by USAID and PEPFAR.