E Cape Aids drug rollout begins
Nomonde Makaula
24 May 2004
The Department of Health in the Eastern Cape has started rolling out antiretroviral drugs at seven hospitals in the province.
The seven sites identified as suitable for providing the drugs are the Umtata, Umzimkulu, East London, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Sterkspruit and Uitenhage hospitals.
Department spokesperson Sizwe Kuphelo said as this was an initial rollout, and that not every HIV-positive person would receive treatment immediately.
There would be a long medical check-up process for patients, with the provision of the drugs dependent on their CD4 count, Kuphelo warned. Aids drugs would be administered to patients whose CD4 count was hovering around 200.
The provision of drugs is part of the government's comprehensive plan for the management, care and treatment of HIV/Aids.
"The department has set aside R48.7-million for the 2004-2005 financial year, and for the first six months we are targeting 2 070 people in the
province", Kuphelo said.
"Health care workers at these hospitals are ready, and we have a home-based care programme to ensure that even people in remote areas have access to the treatment", Kuphelo added.
"We are working in collaboration with the Department of Social Development so that people, especially the poor, have access to free healthy food. We don't believe in giving treatment to people with empty stomachs.
"Soon we will involve the Department of Home Affairs, to make sure that people who deserve an HIV/Aids grant have the necessary identity documents.
"Giving out antiretrovirals does not mean we have defeated HIV/Aids", Kuphelo said. "People must keep in mind that if a person is HIV-positive, he or she is going to be on the treatment for the rest of his or her life."
The department would therefore continue encouraging people to engage in protected sex and to use condoms, which are provided free by the health department, he
said.
Source: BuaNews
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