GAIA Delivering HIV Testing and Linkage to Care: a Key to Ending the Epidemic

Click to watch our short video about the state of AIDS in Malawi.

December 1st marks the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Because of the striking progress made against AIDS in recent years, there is a clear path to the end of the global epidemic.  But success is far from assured; an AIDS-free future requires maintaining urgency and resolve to ensure every person in need has access to HIV testing, treatment and care.

This year’s World AIDS Day theme is “Know Your Status.” Today, three out of four people living with HIV know their status, but some of the most at risk in HIV hotspots in Sub-Saharan Africa, notably men and adolescent young women and girls, still need to be connected to critical testing, treatment and prevention strategies.

GAIA works day in and day out to improve healthcare access and HIV services in Malawi. This year, in addition to operating the GAIA Elizabeth Taylor Mobile Health Clinics in two high-need districts and providing GAIA Nursing Scholarships to orphans and young women, we’ve expanded outreach and services for men, and redoubled our programs for girls and youth. Across all programs this year, GAIA will test 16,000 villagers, including 7,000 adult males and 5,000 youth, ensuring those at the far end of the road know their HIV status and are connected to additional health services when needed.

Together with the community of GAIA supporters, we are doing our part to keep progress against the epidemic on track.

Thank you for standing with us.

Todd Schafer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Executive Director