PEOPLE living with HIV allege the supply of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) has worsened since their demonstration two weeks ago, saying even the cheapest drug, Cotrimoxazole, is no longer available.
Report by Kupakwashe Makonye
The Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV and Aids (ZNN) is now seeking an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Health to address their plight.
Chairperson of the Harare Metro Advocacy Team, a division of ZNN, Joao Zangaroti told NewsDay yesterday that the situation had become critical since their demonstration against the National Aids Council (NAC) whom they accused of failing to avail the life-saving medication.
In a letter to Health minister Henry Madzorera, Zangaroti said: “We are deeply concerned that the outright unavailability of some regimens of ART and prophylaxis is now worse than before October 10, prompting us to call the health department for an urgent meeting. The main agenda is to get assurances and commitment from the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare on the supply of ARVs and prophylaxis urgently to ART centres.”
He said as people living with HIV, they would reaffirm their position that ARVs were a top priority nationally. “We pledge again to push for more accountability and transparency in the management of National Aids Trust Fund (NATF) also known as Aids Levy.”
