Watch Party for Messages of Hope: Reaching Boys and Men with HIV and AIDS Information

Malawi's HIV epidemic affects women and girls at nearly double the rate it affects men and boys, but due to stigma and cultural norms, men and boys are much less likely to know their HIV status or be on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. In a country where ninety-seven percent of people belong to a faith community, HP+ collaborated with Malawi's six religious mother bodies to implement PEPFAR's Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) in eight of Malawi's districts. Through FCI, religous leaders are incorporating Messages of Hope—accurate HIV messages that correspond with religious texts from the Bible or Qu'ran—into their day-to-day work and community engagement activities to help dispel HIV myths and misconceptions, fight stigma, and increase acceptance of HIV services and treatment.