Linnah Matanya's Page

What is the name of your company or organization?

Women for Fair Development(WOFAD)

What is your position in your company or organization?

Executive Director

What does your company of organization do?

Women for Fair Development (WOFAD) began as a small group of women, mostly widows, discussing the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its impact on their lives and their community. During these discussions it became clear that many of the women were unaware of how the virus was spread or how it could be prevented, let alone know how to live positively with the virus. Born out of the concern of a few women, WOFAD was established as a community based organization on July 18th, 2005, with a mission to improve the living standards of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The organization is fully registered with the Malawian government (registration no. 20754/1M/5.2005) and is also registered with the Blantyre City Assembly (registration no. BTC/1206/013).

Our organization is female-staffed and primarily comprised of female members. While many of our members are HIV positive, it is not a requirement in order to be a member or be involved. WOFAD is based in Chirimba, in the Blantyre City district and services the communities of T/A Machinji and T/A Kunthembwe and its villages include Chatha, Mdala, Suya, Mwachade, Galufu, Kadikira and Chinkhandwe. WOFAD aims to economically empower women, reduce stigma and discrimination among women living with HIV/AIDS by providing them with social counselling and home based care, conducting women’s rights sensitisation activities, and encourage women to go for voluntary HIV counselling and testing.

WOFAD is proud to support not only women infected with HIV/AIDS, but also those affected by this pandemic. WOFAD believes that it is important to improve the living standards of those infected with HIV/AIDS, but acknowledges that when someone passes as a result, it is often their families left behind that fall deeper into poverty. WOFAD views the HIV/AIDS pandemic as one that is perpetuated by gender inequality and poverty, making WOFAD’s vision an HIV/AIDS free community, where men and women work equally for the prosperity of all.

In which African countries does your company or organization operate?

Malawi only

What is your website?

http://n/a