According to the 2012-2013 survey on
HIV/AIDS prevalence in Nyanza, statistics indicate that there is an alarming
trend of ART defaulters with a major concern in HomaBay County. With this
alarming trend, Ndhiwa Citizen Voices decided to get out of their comfort zones
to map out the push behind this.
From a number of locally researched
information by Ndhiwa Citizen Voices, statistics indicate that a good number of
the immediate causes for defaulting the ARTs have been due to high spread of ignorance
amongst the users who after feeling relief tend to drop usage assuming they are
cured.
There has been misconception spread
by the local herbalists who have claimed to heal HIV/AIDS through the use of
herbal concoctions hence increase the number ART defaulters in the region.
Poverty is also one of the factors
that have so far contributed to the number defaulters being that most of the
infected individuals from the interiors may not manage to get timely access to
the distant health centers offering the drugs.
In a lengthy discussion with Mr. Meshack
Aoko, a medical practitioner at Ndhiwa Sub-County hospital, we were able to
realize that the government has so far employed defaulters-tracers who move
door to door to guide, counsel and ensure that all the ARTs subscribers adhere
to their drugs prescription.
We were able to learn that like any
other programme, the default-tracers too have met cold receptions in some areas
where secrecy and denomination believes have barred their clients from the use
of drugs or even paying visits to the hospital.
From his parting shot, Mr. Meshack said
that there was still a great need for further sensitization of the community
through the use of media platforms like Ndhiwa Citizen Voices and other radio
mediums to ensure that all the opinion leaders and the entire community get the
message right.
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