Drug-resistant hiv strain noted

confirmed by tests conducted in Uganda recently.
The same tests were also conducted on blood samples collected from people initiated on anti-retroviral drugs at Parirenyatwa, Harare and Mpilo Hospitals.
The revelation was made by a laboratory scientist at the hospital, Mr Christopher Solopa recently during a week-long workshop for journalists in Mashonaland West province organised by the National Aids Council.
“The tests were conducted to establish the efficacy of the drugs on our patients and find if there are cases of resistance.
“The results we have got so far shown that there are four cases of resistance at Father O’hea,” he said.
The samples, he said, had to be sent to Uganda as the country does not have the requisite equipment as it is expensive to set up. Mr Solopa said strides have been, however, made to equip the country’s laboratories with World Health Organisation-certified equipment so that the tests can be conducted in the country.
Currently, South Africa and Uganda have the equipment in Africa. Results for the three other hospitals could not be established by the time of going to print.
Resistance has been attributed to failure by people to adhere to treatment or absconding from taking the drugs. Father O’hea Hospital opportunistic infection outreach nurse, Ms Chengetai Lunga, said the outreach programme had managed to reduce cases of people defaulting from collecting and using their drugs. 3 000 patients are getting ARVs every month.