Patients on anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy have been warned against double dipping as a measure to safeguard themselves following reports that there were imminent shortages of ARVs.
REPORT BY PHYLLIS MBANJE
Many patients, acting on the rumours, registered in different programmes and areas, in a bid to ensure that they get a supply of the life-saving drugs.
This scenario has resulted in other deserving patients being left out or trailing at the bottom of the list. Speaking during the National AIDS Council HIV and Aids update in Chinhoyi, Rangarirai Chiteure of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) said there were adequate supplies and CCM had proposed to cover the procurement of ARVs for the last two quarters of 2014 using savings realised from the Global Fund in the 2012-13 round.
“Patients on anti-retroviral therapy should not panic or engage in double dipping as stocks are adequate.
The country was recently availed with US$32,2 million to fight HIV, TB and malaria for the year 2014 from the Global Fund.
Also speaking at the same meeting, the MOHCW and TB unit director Owen Mugurungi said the country indeed had enough drugs to last up to 2014.
“There shall be no gaps and shortages this year and even in 2014,” Mugurungi said.
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Early this year the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare announced they were only left with two months’ supply of drugs and appealed to the Global Fund for assistance. The country then received U$32,2 million for the year 2014.
