A national ceremony for World AIDS Day was held on 1 December in Kasungu, Malawi, around 150km north of the capital Lilongwe. The guest of honour was the Minister of Health, Mrs Ngaunji.

Other government authorities were also present in Kasungu, as well as members of the national AIDS commission and several leaders of civil society.

And representatives of the DREAM programme were there too: they were manning a stand describing treatment activities implemented in the country and planned developments.

Pasemu, a DREAM activist from the Mthengo wa Ntenga centre, delivered a speech before the minister on behalf of our programme. He explained the services offered by the centre, but more than anything else, he told his story as a person stricken, yes, by HIV infection, but who has been saved by the possibility of treatment and by his work to help other patients in his country.

The Health Minister personally expressed her interest and appreciation to Pasemu, saying she wishes to come to visit the Mthengo wa Ntenga centre in the near future.