More HIV Treatments Needed in Uganda and Zambia
A health worker speaks to HIV patients waiting for treatment in Kampala, Uganda
In June, the World Health Organization advised nations to give anti-retroviral medicines, or ARVs, to everyone who tests positive for HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS. The WHO said this would reduce the risk of the disease spreading.
But health workers at medical centers outside the Ugandan capital, Kampala, have been struggling to provide the life-saving ARVs. They have been protesting shortages of the drugs. They say ARVs and HIV testing materials are in especially low supply.
John Barasa heads an HIV clinic in the eastern town of Busia. He says the government has not been providing the drugs he asks for.
Mr. Barasa says his clinic asked for 100 containers of ARVs in June. But they only got just six. As a result, he has been able to give patients only one or two weeks’ worth of drugs at a time.
Many patients travel for hours to get to the clinic. Mr. Barasa says some patients have been running out of medicine.
Elvis Basudde leads the Positive Men’s Union. He says many people have complained to him about the lack of ARVs. He says the treatment plan must be followed exactly or drug resistance could develop. A drug shortage makes it difficult for patients to follow a treatment plan.
"With us, there must be strict adherence to treatment. So whenever we have such problems and issues, and somebody cannot be able to access medicine in good time, you can imagine the consequences. It could lead into drug resistance."
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25