adminSpeaking after the presentation of books and other learning materials to Mpilo Central Hospital’s Opportunistic Infection Clinic Resource Centre by US Ambassador Charles Ray yesterday, the hospital’s acting chief executive officer Dr Wedu Ndebele said if the country was to succeed in the fight against HIV and Aids, there was need to focus on the adolescents as they have the highest defaulter rate.
He said those aged between 13 and 21, which are considered adolescents in HIV and Aids programmes, were difficult to handle as they skip treatment or default, hence the need for intensification of their education on HIV and Aids so that they appreciate the importance of treatment.
“It is known the world over that adolescents are the biggest defaulters and anything to enhance their participation is welcome and good. If we do not support them we will lose in the process, some
would die and we would not be able to fight and eradicate HIV and Aids.
“Adolescents are the most difficult group to handle in terms of ART administration as they have the highest defaulter rate,” said Dr Ndebele.
He said the hospital, the only one in the country with a viable Opportunistic Infection Resource Centre, was battling to maintain all the adolescents who were initiated on ART as most of them default or relocate to other areas without following the proper channels of being transferred to enable them to continue with the treatment.
Dr Ndebele said the hospital has more than 16 000 people on ART, and at some point adolescents were about 4 000 although some have been moved to adult treatment where there are 11 423.
Dr Ndebele urged stakeholders to work together to capacitate adolescents so that they continue receiving treatment under ART.
“The best education to adolescents is through their peers and that is only possible through facilities such as the Resource Centre. This is the place where we prepare to hand them over to adult programmes at 21 but that depends on how they take up ART,” said Dr Ndebele.
The Resource Centre, which was opened last year, provides adolescents with a facility to meet and mingle where they are coached on computer skills, art and craft, music, drama, poetry and other projects to sustain themselves.
The US Ambassador was on a tour of the clinic which receives support from the Embassy.
Ambassador Ray said his government will next year provide $60 million to Zimbabwe’s national HIV and Aids programmes through the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR).
He later donated books and pledged assistance to put up additional bookshelves for the Resource Centre and Kariangwe Mission Hospital in Binga, Matabeleland North.
He said education about HIV and Aids should be a lifelong process.
“I am proud to announce two partnerships, one for Mpilo Counselling Support Trust and the other for an ARV lending library and Aids Information Centre in Matabeleland North. We will initially donate books and provide assistance in other programmes to follow,” said Ambassador Ray.
Briefing the Ambassador, a representative from the centre, Sr Bridget Zulu said they were facing a challenge of shortage of resources.
Online Reporter