Beneficiary stories
The lasting impact of America's Global Health legacy
American generosity has saved millions of lives through programs such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Continued investment in global health is both a moral responsibility and a strategic national security imperative, ensuring that these programs deliver lasting benefits for people around the world and for the American people.
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IMPACT PROFILE: ELINA MWASINGA
Elina Mwasinga is the executive director of Y+ Malawi and works alongside the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to mobilize young people living with HIV.
Transcript:
Hello, my name is Elina Mwasinga, and I’m the National Coordinator for the National Association for Young People Living with HIV.
PEPFAR, to me, is more than a program. PEPFAR is the reason my life continued. It is the reason I’m able to make this video today, and why I’ve been fighting for the rights of other young people.
PEPFAR gave me the opportunity to continue with my life through the provision of treatment. We’ve been able to access treatment and achieve viral suppression. When Malawi talks about the strides toward the 95-95-95 targets, we celebrate that. But we also have to look at the key foundations. We have to look at what has happened in the background, what has happened behind the scenes, as well as on the key platforms. One of the biggest drivers of that impact has been PEPFAR.
I’m a young person leading a network of other young people living with HIV. My story continued. Yes, I was able to lead a network, but I’m also advocating in the global space because I was given that opportunity. At the end of the day, there are many life stories like mine that have been touched by PEPFAR.
We have seen how human resources at health facilities have been strengthened through implementing partners with the investments PEPFAR has made in Malawi. At the same time, we’ve seen the importance of community voices. Communities in Malawi have been engaged throughout PEPFAR processes, and I’ve been part of those processes. We’ve been able to ensure that the voices of the community – the real-life stories of the most vulnerable – are included in planning documents, and that has helped guide Malawi in implementing the key interventions that we now see reflected in these positive outcomes.