Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Online Reporter
THE National Aids Council (NAC) is worried about a growing trend where HIV positive children get tired of taking antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, a phenomenon known as treatment fatigue.
This was revealed at the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province 3rd Quarter Provincial Development Committee meeting held at a local lodge on the outskirts of the city on Monday.
NAC Bulawayo provincial acting manager Mr Douglas Moyo said chief among the reasons why HIV positive children stop taking their medication is because parents or guardians do not disclose to them the actual reasons why they must take the drugs.
“We have noticed a growing trend where children stop taking their ARVs simply because they are not told the reasons for taking the medication. We are talking about kids as young as five years old who grow tired of taking ARVs but the records at the local clinics will show that the medication is being picked up on time but the children simply stop taking the medication,” said Mr Moyo.
Statistics show that in 2024, a total of 77,250 adolescents between the ages of 10 to 19 years were recorded to be HIV positive.
36,726 were males while 40,424 were females.
1,344 deaths were recorded in 2024 with 671 males losing their lives compared to 673 females.
