Thousands of patients at risk over shortage of ARVs
Thousands of patients are at risk over shortage of ARVs and other HIV commodities in the Nyanza region.
A section of Member of Parliaments in Nyanza region raised the red flag warning that the situation has put the lives of thousands of patients at risk.
Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga warned that lives of young parents and their children living with the virus are on the line as the health facilities run out of the life-saving essentials.
“We are concerned for our people. We are concerned that we are going to have more deaths, probably more than they are dying of Covid-19,” Wanga said.
According to data by the National Aids Control Council, the national HIV prevalence rate stands at 4.2 per cent.
Nyanza accounts for about 30 per cent of the country’s estimated 1.2 million HIV patients with the region recording the highest prevalence rate for year.
Addressing the press outside Parliament Buildings today, the MPs said that the region has run out of ARVs, rapid testing kits as well as testing reagents.
According to her, many children born of HIV positive parents have not been tested since January due to lack of PCR test kits.
“There is also an acute shortage of rapid test kids. The only way you test people and get them into treatment is through the rapid test. Currently, they are only choosing who to test because many facilities do not have these kits,” she said.
Wanga was accompanied by Kisumu woman representative Roza Buyu, Seme MP James Nyikal, Migori Woman Rep Pamela Odhiambo, Nyatike’s Tom Odege and Siaya woman representative Christine Ombaka.
