THE National Aids Committee has recently received complaints from persons living with HIV/AIDS over the shortage of the two main HIV antiviral (anti-retroviral) drugs used in the combination therapy provided by the National Care & Treatment Centre clinic. The clinic mainly serves Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Region 4 (Georgetown, East Coast & East Bank Demerara), along with those Regions without counselling, testing and treatment sites. The NAC understands that these drugs (Travada & Efavirenz) are due in the country within the next week or two, and have been advising PLWHA to continue visiting or phoning in to the clinic for updates, as well as seeking assistance from other PLWHA who may have extra drugs to carry them over this period.
The NAC is also encouraging all PLWHA on ‘first-line’ treatment against using only one of the combination therapy drugs if they cannot access both, since if only one drug is used, HIV could become resistant to it. It has been proven that taking two or more anti-retrovirals at the same time makes for more effective treatment in the long-run, vastly reducing the rate resistance can develop.
The NAC is also encouraging all PLWHA to continue using complementary therapies where possible, especially in the mind-body category (relaxation techniques, spirituality, massage) and bio-body-based practices in building the immune system (balanced diet, vitamins & minerals, herbal, pre/pro-biotics (yogurt,etc.).
The NAC is seeking to fast-track a requested meeting with the Programme Manager at the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS), seeking confirmation of the due-date of expected shipment, feed-back of the 2008/2009 annual ARVs supply plan, as well as clarification as to both government and partners (international donors) commitment to guaranteeing sustained treatment to approximately 2,800 persons reportedly on anti-retrovirals.