adminyear compared to 162 the same period in 2011.
MSF medical team leader in Tsholotsho Dr David Wachi attributed the increase to nurse-led ARV initiation for paediatrics, which Government recently introduced. Previously, only visiting doctors from district hospitals would initiate children living with HIV on treatment. This would delay the process of having HIV positive children put on treatment.
“Most doctors are working in towns or cities and no one wants to work in rural areas and yet the huge burden is in these areas. Since the introduction of nurse-led ART initiation, nurses are taking a leading role in starting children on ARVs unless there is a complication they refer to a higher level of care,” Dr Wachi said.
He commended Government’s move to train nurses to initiate ARVs saying it would enable more children to be put on treatment. Laboratory scientists at Tsholotsho district hospital, however, expressed concern over centralisation of HIV testing for infants saying it was another bottleneck that should be removed.
Online Reporter