Internally displaced people living with HIV at Hopley Farm in Harare have urged government to guarantee them food security so that they do not skip their anti-retroviral therapy (ART) due to shortage of food, a non-governmental organisation has said. by VENERANDA LANGA
Straight Path Support Resource Centre programmes director Michael Muketiwa told NewsDay yesterday that more than 135 children aged between five and 16 years were in dire need of food.
“Places like Hopley Farm are new settlement areas and there are a lot of illicit things happening there with young girls engaged in prostitution because they are hungry,” Muketiwa said.
“If there is no food security, then we are fighting a losing battle against HIV and Aids because these children on ART can faint and experience other effects like multiple infections if they take treatment without having eaten.”
The centre works with marginalised HIV+ people at Hopley Farm.
Muketiwa said most of the people on ART at Hopley Farm could not afford the $1 consultation fee required for them to access ARV drugs.
“Adherence means that someone has to take drugs timeously. If the affected people on ART cannot afford the $1 consultation fee it means their intake of ARVs will be erratic. There is also need for more training of personnel dealing with patients on ART so that they know that they communicate professionally and know that they are dealing with sick people and that they do not need to be too harsh,” he said.
He said without diagnostic equipment, the fight against HIV would be futile.
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“Government should make use of opportunities in China where there is cheap diagnostic equipment. We also need low-cost tools for male circumcision. There is also need for government to consult affected groups whenever drugs are being changed, and whenever policies are being formulated,” Muketiwa said.
