Today is World AIDS day, and globally there are an estimated 36.7 million people living with HIV. While there have been massive strides made in the global response over the last decade, HIV is still the leading cause of death for African teenagers, and in fact increased between 2001 – 2012, contrary to a global
Despite being fully preventable and treatable if caught early, more women in Malawi die from invasive cervical cancer than anywhere else in the world. For women living with HIV, the risks are even greater. That’s why we’re running a project to help women in Malawi beat cervical cancer. We need your help to reach out
Dignitas International encourages greater involvement of people living with HIV in the delivery of health care. This is the underlying principle behind our Expert Client program. An Expert Client is a person who is HIV+ and has openly declared their status. The most important role of an Expert Client is to inspire others to seek
James Justin is a 39-year-old inmate at Zomba Central Prison, Malawi’s only maximum-security facility. Built in 1935 for about 400 inmates, James is one of 2,400 prisoners that now reside in the decrepit and overcrowded facility. Known as a home to people convicted of serious crimes, the Prison is also widely recognized for its successful
HIV+ youth are particularly vulnerable to stigma and discrimination from friends, family and community members. At the age of 15, Mada tested positive for HIV and faced stigma and discrimination at school and her in the community in Phalombe District, Malawi. “I was the laughing stock among my peers. I was ridiculed because I was
While 5pm is the end of the workday for most staff at Dignitas International (DI) in Malawi, this isn’t the case for George Mulewa. Trained in Key Population and Sexual Reproductive Health, his role usually takes him out after work hours to bars or other “hotspots” that typically have high concentrations of people that face
2016 was a year of transformation for Dignitas. We’re proud to share with you some highlights of our work from this past year. In our 2016 Annual Report, you’ll see the incredible achievements we made with your support. Please scroll through the stories in the window above to learn more about how we’re transforming health around the world. — Your
On March 27 and 28, Dignitas International and the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority are hosting a Knowledge Translation and Exchange Workshop as part of the conclusion of our Community Health Worker Diabetes Pilot Project in 4 Northern Ontario communities. Held in Lac Seul, the event will review 3 years of progress and plan
Tuberculosis (TB) is curable and yet is still among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Even with 10 million people falling ill with TB in 2015, the common perception is that it is a thing of the past. We’re here to tell you that it isn’t. Many countries, especially developing nations like Malawi, still face
Located at the junction of Malawi’s main rail line and the busy M8 highway, the southern town of Balaka is a small but active transportation hub, visited daily by people travelling for business or pleasure. It is a stopover between Lilongwe, the national capital, and Blantye, an important commercial city further south. Although there is little