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Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
THE uptake of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs is on the increase in Matabeleland provinces with revelations that scores of women are collecting the life prolonging drugs on behalf of their spouses who are working in South Africa and Botswana.
Matabeleland region, which includes Bulawayo province, has the highest HIV and Aids prevalence rate compared to other provinces, according to the National Aids Council (NAC).

Health officials from Matabeleland North and South provinces said most women in the two provinces are collecting ARVs at various health centres and sending them to their husbands who are mainly based in the neighbouring countries.

“There are about 800 people who are on ARVs treatment in this community and some of them are women who collect the drugs on behalf of their husbands who are working in South Africa and send them there,” said a health official from Pumula Mission Hospital in Tsholotsho District who preferred anonymity.

The official said a number of people who were on treatment, especially men, had left the country and their families feared that unless they supply them with medication they would default.

“We have the records of those who have left the country and we want to ensure that they get medication but unfortunately most of them return home once year. Their spouses or relatives are collecting the ARVs for them.”

The official however, said the supply of the drugs was sufficient.
“We have a constant supply of ARVs here from the Government and some of them are donated by MSF. We also have enough cotrimoxazole, which the patients require,” said the official.

Chief Siphoso from Tsholotsho said he was aware of the issue and commended the women for doing a good job.
“I am aware of the development. The idea is to ensure that those people receive constant medication even if they are away. If they default they run the risk of being resistant to treatment and that might cost their lives,” said Chief Siphoso.

Although the provincial medical director for Matabeleland North, Dr Nyasha Masuka, could not be reached for comment on the issue, his counterpart in Matabeleland South Dr William Busumani confirmed that the same was happening in his province.

“It is a development that is under discussion and the ministry has not taken a position on the issue.  It seems coming home every month to collect medication is a problem for many who are outside the country and some end up defaulting,” said Dr Busumani.

“When they default they come back home very ill. It is something that has come to our attention because we are looking at the fact that when these people come back they can be given medication for three to four months or they can ask their relative to collect on their behalf.”
Dr Busumani said the Government was still working on how best the situation could be managed and indicated that sometimes collecting ARVs on behalf of someone was not that safe.

“It is a tricky situation but we keep the records of people who are on ART and if they can identify a reliable relative to collect for them, we cannot refuse to give them.

“On the other hand giving ARVs to someone else who is not the patient is not that safe,” he said.
He also said some of the patients prefer driving all the way from South Africa and Botswana to collect medication at the border towns such as Plumtree and Beitbridge and go back.

Matabeleland region is believed to have the highest number of people who are in SA and Botswana because of the region’s proximity to the neighbouring countries.

Although the prevalence rate for Matabeleland region is high, health officials have said the trend remained stable due to improved access to quality treatment services.

The national HIV and Aids prevalence rate in the country is about 14 percent.
Dr Busumani urged patients to always develop a habit of visiting health centres for treatment review.

He said even if one experiences a minor health problem, he or she should not hesitate to visit the nearest clinic or hospital.
About 1,3 million Zimbabweans are living with HIV and Aids and out of these about half a million are on anti-retroviral treatment.
Early this year there were fears of a shortage of ARVs, especially the second line, following the decline of donor funding.

However, the Global Fund later on disbursed $21 million to fight HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and malaria.
The bulk of the money was targeting procurement of ARVs.
The Government is also providing ARVs using proceeds generated from the Aids levy.