Published by the government of Zimbabwe
23 February 2008
Harare — PEOPLE living with HIV and Aids have criticised some non-governmental organisations involved in HIV and Aids programmes for exposing persons tested positive to stigma and further deterioration of their health by providing incomplete services.
Speaking at the official hand-over of anti-retroviral drugs worth over $100 billion from Varichem Pharmaceuticals to the Zimbabwe HIV and Aids Activists' Union patron, Dr Timothy Stamps, union president Mr Bernard Nyathi said most NGOs only fund testing and counselling services but leave the burden of treatment to Government.
"Hundreds of people are getting tested for HIV but are not given the drugs. They just refer you to Opportunistic Infections clinics or other Government institutions. They do not make follow-ups to see whether referred people would have gained access to ARVs," Mr Nyathi said.
He said for people tested positive, the fact that they cannot afford to buy the life-prolonging drugs from private pharmacies and would have been told of their status further worsens their condition.
"Government is already overburdened because of the current foreign currency shortages, so people spend more than three months waiting to be placed on the programme. NGOs should complement Government's efforts and extend their facilities to provision of ARVs."
Mr Nyathi said because Government's efforts were not being complemented, some people already on the Government programme were being transferred from ARV centres in Harare to rural areas where the drugs are not in high demand.
"We are having our members being transferred from one centre to another including some centres that are far from their homes."
Commenting on the distribution of the 250 units of different types of ARVs received from Varichem Pharmaceuticals, ZHAAU vice president Mr Stanley Takaona said people who are expected to benefit from the drugs are those already on treatment.
"Although it is a donation, we have agreed to sell the drugs for a small fee to our members who were accessing treatment from private pharmacies but can no longer afford to buy them.
"These members should also be on the Government waiting list so that the drugs will only cover them during the waiting period," said Mr Takaona.
The drugs comprise of first line and second line treatment such as Indinavir, Stavudine, Varicomb and Zidovudine. ZHAAU, an organisation for people living with HIV and Aids, was formed in 2006.
Varichem Pharmaceuticals, the sole manufacturer of ARVs in the country, has not yet resumed normal production of drugs because of shortage of foreign currency.
The company is still waiting for inspection of the recently upgraded ARV plant by World Health Organisation during this first quarter.
In a separate interview, the head of Aids and TB unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Owen Mugurungi, said the ministry plans to increase the number people on ARVs by 50 000 to 150 000.
"With support from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria and other partners, we intend to increase the number of people on ARVs by 50 000," Dr Mugurungi said.
According to HIV and Aids statistics released last year, more than 300 000 people are in dire need of ARVs countrywide.
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