admincountry will start with pregnant women, commercial sex workers and discordant couples as it can not afford to initiate all HIV-positive people with a CD4 count of 500 because of financial constraints.
The previous WHO treatment guidelines stipulated that ARV initiation should be done at a CD4 count of 350.
National Aids Council deputy director Mr Raymond Yekeye said WHO’s treatment guidelines are only guiding principles, which a country could take or leave depending on it’s affordability.
Mr Yekeye said this is a process which would start with pregnant women, discordant couples and commercial sex workers.
“As a country we have agreed that for starters, we will give priority to pregnant women, commercial sex workers and discordant couples whose CD4 count would have dropped to 500 or below because we can not afford to provide drugs to all those in need,” said Mr Yekeye.
Mr Yekeye said pregnant women and discordant couples are targeted to minimise the risk of transmission to unborn babies and their partners respectively.
Online Reporter