NAPHAM has over 17 years experience promoting and advocating for quality care, support and prevention services in order to enhance positive living and to reduce HIV transmission for all people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in the country. NAPHAM is a membership organization, and currently has an estimated membership of over 60,000 across the country. Of these, there are 5,945 male and 8,37
9 female children aged between 0 and 18 years. There are a total of 14,324 children, suffice to say the number is increasing with new membership . Membership is open to all PLHIV and is voluntary. NAPHAM implements five main programmes namely; prevention, care and support, advocacy, livelihood, membership anchor and capacity building. This is according to NAPHAM Strategic Plan (2008-2012). Arising from these programmes, NAPHAM implements different activities in all the 28 districts of Malawi. The key activities include HIV and AIDS education outreach in the communities, provision of psychosocial support through Group Therapy Sessions (for adults, young people and children), provision of nutritional support, lobbying for change, and facilitation of livelihood activities such as livestock rearing, crop production, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Most of NAPHAM’s interventions have been targeted at adults, while child therapy sessions are conducted for the younger children aged between 5 and 11 years, often accompanying their parents during adult group therapy. NAPHAM is working on strategies to mobilize the young people into Young Plus Support Groups and provide for their needs. Child headed households, and Children affected by AIDS (CABA), and children living with HIV are also identified and supported with food supplements, and any other basic support that is available at the time. The older orphans who have not completed schooling are linked to bursaries and others to vocational training or apprenticeship, and supported with financial support and/or toolkits to start income generating activities (IGAs). Those receiving ART in health centres that are very far are facilitated with transport money under some projects. Implementation of the activities is done by the support groups, with NAPHAM district offices providing technical support and capacity building. In the support groups there are technical committees responsible for different activities and each committee has volunteers who lead in the activities. The support groups are composed mainly of adults dominated by females, who form 71% NAPHAM membership. Each support group has an executive committee, that is gender inclusive; and they are further trained in leadership, governance and business management skills. NAPHAM is seeking to increase Male and Youth involvement and this could be achieved through partnerships and networking with relevant development partners and stakeholders.
