Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:10:57 +0000
By Jack Mapapayi
AN HIV and AIDS activist in Kalumbila district has observed that the isolation of collection points for Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) medicine in various health facilities is greatly contributing to stigma amongst HIV positive people.
District AIDS task force chairperson Chipawa Chipawa told the Daily Nation in an interview that there was need for the Ministry of Health to review the situation and allow the collection of ARV drugs at the same point with other drugs.
“The separation of the collection points for ARVs and these other drugs, I think, is not a good idea.
“For me, I would suggest that ARVs be administered the way other drugs are administered; let’s say from the pharmacy than making a specific point just for ARVs,” Mr Chipawa said.
He said the only way to achieve the 90-90-90 by 2030 goal as set by Government and the World Health Organization (WHO) could only be achieved by allowing the collection of drugs to be free and compulsory.
And Mr Chipawa has appealed to people living positively not to be misled by those purporting to be prophets.
He said patients should always adhere to professional advice by qualified medical personnel.
“We have also observed that the so-called prophets are on rampant misleading people that they should stop taking ARVs. This is not right and our people should be on the lookout for such bogus advice,’’ he added.
