HIV+ people call for free treatment

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
PEOPLE living with HIV/Aids are requesting that government ensures that they receive free treatment at the country’s hospitals and clinics for all opportunistic infections (OI) since these were related to the pandemic. In an interview yesterday, Zimbabwe National Network of People living with HIV (ZNNP+), Matabeleland North co-ordinator Thandiwe Zondo, said the request was part of concerns that their members have been raising during their national community monitoring feedback consultative meetings being held in the country’s provinces.
Zondo said free anti-retroviral drugs were not enough in the fight against the disease.

“Many of the people with HIV are unemployed and because of their HIV status their immune system is already weak. They can be easily attacked by opportunistic infections. They may sometimes fail to access treatment as they will not be having the money,” said Zondo.

She said most of the people living with the virus were more at risk of opportunistic infections rather than the virus.
Zondo said part of their concerns included the need for upgrading infrastructure at OI clinics as they were always overwhelmed by patients.

She said there were few CD4 count machines at medical centres making it difficult for HIV positive people to constantly review their health.
“There are few CD4 count machines in the country. Some people have gone for years without checking their CD4. By checking their CD4 count it will allow people to know what they will be in need of,” she said.