GOVERNMENT has launched the single dosage Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) which will help increase eligibility of children and adults to be put on the life supporting drug.
Health deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya said during the launch of the new guidelines that about 90, 000 children in Zambia were in need of ART but only 49, 000 were receiving the treatment representing 55 percent coverage.
“With the guidelines launched today, we anticipate a surge in eligible patients, to this effect Government has made a provision of US$ 45 million for procurement of ART this year with supplementary funding from supporting partners,” Dr Chilufya said.
The guidelines were launched during the second national paediatric and adolescent Art conference held at Lusaka’s Intercontinental Hotel yesterday.
“The core approach recommended in these new guidelines is to start treatment earlier, as the evidence now shows, earlier treatment brings the dual advantage of keeping people healthier, longer and dramatically reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to others,” he said.
He said the once-per-day combination pill was now recommended for all adults living with HIV, including those co-infected with tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other infections.
Dr Chilufya was happy that Zambia was the only country in the sub-Saharan region to make this bold decision of having universal access to ART for children of 15 years and below as part of the National ART policy.
He said the guideline set high standards of care such as integrating HIV testing and counselling and care services, providing immediate CD4 testing with a rapid turn-around of results.
He said the guideline underscored the long term health of pregnant women and mothers living with HIV as well as those of their children.
“The guidelines also recommend that pregnant women and children under the age of 15 years start treatment immediately after diagnosis,” he added.
He said with the new guidelines in place, government’s plan to attain 80 percent coverage by 2015 remained in sight.
We commend the Government for working around the clock to improve the quality of life of its citizen by providing a single dose. We pray that it will help in prolonging life and those in need shall take advantage. hoping it will reduce on many defaulting.
Good news , we can now increase our business knowing that our clients are safe.
THIS IS GOOD HONONOURABLE DEPUTY MINISTER. BUT MY ONLY CONCERN IS SUSTAINABILITY. THIS NEEDS ALL THE DISTRICTS TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO ALL THE CHEMISTRIES. THE LIVER FUNCTION TESTS (AST, ALT) AND THE KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS (CREATININE, UREA). AND THE CD4 COUNTS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE MONITORING OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE ARVs. THE ABILITY TO DO VIRAL LOADS SHOULD ALSO BE DECENTRALIZED, AT LEAST TO PROVINCIAL CENTRES TO FACILITATE DETECTION OF TREATMENT FAILURE.
AND THE SINGLE DOSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ADULTS IN FORM OF ATRIPLA.
Yes it has been there but was not used by most of the patients. It was was not widely used per say. It had myths in itself e.g. patients are not get pregnant coz they will have disabled children and etc.
Please carry out compulsory HIV/AIDS tests. The country is harboring a lot of such who avoid getting testing. May the leaders advocate for this as they started on male circumcision. I salute all those who will agree to this noble proposal.
Why Compulsory HIV/AIDS Tests as though the complete perfect cure has already been found? Malaria has its cure … so, why are compulsory tests on it never done? After all logic says it can go a long way without any psychological impact on patients.
Have you considered the fall back drug should the so called drug go out of stock? Have you considered capacity to do so … the budget, medical personnel? Wonderful thing to consider, but not yet practical in the current Zambia where nurses get dismissed for reminding GRZ over what they’d have been promised.
If it were to be a Single dosage drug per year; then we’d say we could be ready for the so called compulsory thing. Let’s continue with it the way it is until we build more capacity, as we work to optimize care for those of us…
WORKING GRZ, NOT THE NOISE COMING FROM THOSE BUNCH OF LUNATICS EVERY DAY ALL YEAR ROUND
Really, but we have been prescribing those same ARV drugs for over 5 years now to adults: the only difference now is world health organization (WHO) in 2012 issued guidelines for use of the same drugs in children and pregnant women. Don’t give to chimbwis, they have done nothing here!
In as much as I find this expression of solidarity very humbling, I some how shiver just to grasp that people have been setenced to death. I wish that disease would just go away for am 100% sure the psychological load equals the weight of torture like it or not! Hopefully Government can facilitate psychological counselling for those affected. Pretending there are no psychological effects down loaded on the affected both directly and indirectly dispite having achieved to prolong life is S******pid, a successful nation is as a result of a sound mental health of its citizens!
Oh my ! You have spoken my mind.The fear of catching this disease also gives me creeps.
Play at home and no away matches allowed. Continue playing golf. Self-service or DIY. Better still be prepared like a scout and carry your gadgets at all times when you go fishing.
This is commendable!
I work in public health and RSA is already doing this, therefore Zambia is not the first country in Sub-Saharan to implement universal access to to ART. Actually, RSA has score big after the Mbeki era!!!
Who is paying, the US? or?
I commend the GOVT but on children i still feel the WHO guideline of compulsory treatment to Hiv positive under five is more sustainable than raising it to under 15 yrs.
South Africa has already changed from multi dose to a single single.
Only affected people will apprcreciate this latest government effort.
Even the single dose will one day run out
its true most of the PLWHA have aready been introduced to Atripla and have been on the drug for over a year now. unless govern. was on experiment to launch the drug now!!!!!?? what is the name of the drug that has been launched anyway?
Thank you Chisenga @2.Botswana has long started using Atripla and we are not the first to take that ‘bold decision’.Infact there is a very big program in Bots about HIV issues we can learn alot from them.
Brother Kabimba, good news for you to celebrate.
I guess brother Winter Kabimba must have been the first get that new drug.
Kudos to the Government, @Mushota from glasgow say something stupid i dare you.
This is good news. Botswana had ATRIPLA for quite some time now. People should get tested and know their status. Remember anyone having sex is at risk because you do not know who else had sex or is having sex with your partner. I just wonder when I read about bloggers who scorn people because they are on treatment. To me, those on treatment have made the right decisions well in time. I personally know people who have been on treatment for many years and have productive lives. I give this Govt. some credit on this one. Well done. Nevertheless, people must not mistake this and start interacting in risk ways.
….is it interacting or intercourse…ing? You are bring shy….iiiiee?
Children of my mother aids is real, let us all avoid casual sex, zibsip,niec, ktc are serious hiv breedind grounds …. Naleka and stablessed
Lets promote our local ARTs not getting excited by keep enriching Multinational Corporations! Lets wake up Africa napapata I plead with you by the mercies of God!
Why is the government not keen on adopting the sondashi formula which can earn the country a lot of money & can cure AIDS instead of these ARVs ? According to Dr sondashi his formula cures AIDS. Why not invest in it as a country ?
The victory against HIV lays in PMTCT, especially Option B+, and also once we adopt the test and treat concept. Remember goal # 5 in management of ART? Reducing the risk of transmission in the general population to zero!!!!