SIM, through Partners in Hope, has been offering free antiretroviral medications (ARVs) to people living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi since late 2002. The number of patients has increased to the hundreds, making Partners in Hope the second largest provider of ARVs in Malawi's central region. Partners in Hope is also one of the few to provide care to children with AIDS. These ARV drugs, along with an array of AIDS-related care and services, have impacted thousands of lives.

Partners in Hope, or PIH, arose out of the work of SIM doctor Perry Jansen. Beginning with a simple Home Based Care program in Malawi's capital city of Lilongwe, Dr. Jansen's work has expanded into a comprehensive program for confronting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malawi. In late 2005, PIH moved into a new 36,000 square foot facility which offers medical care to over 3000 patients monthly.

More than Medicine

In addition to medical services, the PIH Medical Centre also provides HIV testing and counseling. The availability of the life-saving antiretroviral therapy has increased the number of patients willing to be tested for HIV. Another initiative of PIH for the community is Action for Behaviour Change, youth-focused prevention program reaching nearly 1,000 students weekly. Wings of Hope, yet another initiative, is an HIV prevention radio program which airs weekly on National Radio.

Central to PIH's strategy is to train and equip Malawians to lead the clinic's work. This training is also available to staff from other facilities around the country to help them begin or improve their HIV/AIDS programs.

The new PIH clinic provides and will expand on the following:

• Excellent in-clinic care for Malawians living with HIV/AIDS regardless of socioeconomic status. This includes a program for delivery of antiretroviral medications though a low-cost, non-private clinic as well as a private general clinic.
• Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center (free, anonymous, walk-in).
• Home Based Care program using skilled nurses and volunteers from local churches to visit and provide care and support of critically ill patients in their own homes. This includes providing palliative medications and, as possible, antiretroviral medications.
• Provide pastoral care and spiritual support to all patients.
• Facilitating abstinence-based "Anti-AIDS" clubs in secondary and primary schools in the Lilongwe District and participating in other HIV Prevention efforts including the radio program "Wings of Hope."
• Training and equipping of Malawians to develop and operate HIV/AIDS programs and assume greater vision and ownership of their program (available for staff of other facilities as well).
• Assist organizations with development and implementation of HIV/AIDS Workplace Programs, including ARV provision.
• Pediatric AIDS Specialty Clinic-providing a "kid-friendly" environment.
• Private clinic services, general medical care (improves access to HIV/AIDS services to patients who would not choose to be seen at an "AIDS Clinic" and provides income which can sustain low-cost services).
• Motivating, empowering, and equipping church leaders in Malawi and the region through "Breaking the Silence" seminars.

Sitting "Knee-to-Knee"

Dr. Jansen says, "It is one thing to be horrified at statistics, it is quite another to sit "knee-to-knee" as a physician in this epicenter of the worst epidemic of all time and experience how HIV/AIDS is robbing this country of its mothers and fathers, its leaders and its workforce. Children are growing up with no parents, no chance of digging themselves out of poverty and illiteracy, but every chance of contracting the very disease that put them in this state."

Give

While you may not be able to sit "knee-to-knee" with HIV sufferers, you can link hands with those who do. Partners in Hope is seeking people to come along side their vision in prayer and finances. Please visit www.partnersinmalawi.org or contact your nearest SIM office.