Deputy Minister of Health Patrick Chikusu has assured HIV positive people who are on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) that their treatment will not be interrupted because the country now has enough medicine in stock.
Dr. Chikusu said about 500, 000 packets of navirapine have already arrived in the country while 500 and 000 more were expected to arrive soon.
He has since directed health institutions in the country to stop rationing the drug.
He urged end users to make their orders as soon as possible adding that Medical Stores should also urgently distribute the drug to health facilities.
And on tuberculosis (TB) drugs, Dr. Chikusu said tenders to procure more medicine were in progress hence the country should be assured of good stock.
He said this in Lusaka yesterday when he toured Levy Mwanawasa General and Chainama hospitals.
Dr. Chikusu is on a presidential directive to get first hand information on how the strategic health plan, which was implemented in 2011, is progressing in all hospitals across the country.
He has since started his tour of hospitals with Lusaka province before spreading it out to hospitals in other provinces.
The Deputy Minister noted that government would also want to acquaint itself with the many challenges that health institutions in the country were faced with in order for it to provide permanent solutions.
Dr. Chikusu has meanwhile dismissed the myths that psychiatric was a communicable disease.
He said the ailment is a non communicable disease therefore anyone can suffer from it.
He further advised people to desist from discriminating against those that suffer from it.
Dr. Chikusu also disclosed plans to elevate Chainama Hills Hospital to a training hospital in order to have more people trained as psychiatrists.
Currently, the hospital only has two professional psychiatrists.
ZANIS
Rationing ARVs ? God forbid ! Thats asking for drug resistance.
@zebige
Thats coming from your government my boy!…hhahahahah
your minister hasnot even assessed the extent of the problem,,he doesnot KNOW the ARVs national stock levels!!!, as usual he just comes out ordering and demanding!!! hahahahahah
Yes this makes sad reading my friend.
Don’t be sad from reading such Ba Zebige, instead be worried that PF government used to ask patients to ration on ARVs since there is no subsidies on medicine.
while 500 and 000 more were expected to arrive soon.
What the hell is this? Even a patient can’t make errors like this. Its then the PF minister Chikusu who is rationing..
@nostadamus
kkikaiakkaiakaai
Contrdicting youselves the minister 2weeks ago was warning health institution to stop giving more than a month,today his deputy is warning them
He should not direct but appeal health workers are proffessionals for one to impose a directive means someone has failed to think
I’ve been waiting for more news on this story of ARVs shortages. I don’t understand why the news outlets aren’t pursuing it more, asking the government for answers. They have logistics systems and supply chains, and there are lot of people who’ve made money working in some capacity on these systems. Why was there a shortage? Who is responsible? Why was the shortage not forecast and dealt with earlier? And why, if there is a drug shortage, are the government and health organizations not sending people to go and buy the drugs in the country of origin and fly them here? Some clinics are delaying to give medicines, or are stockpiling it for family and friends of workers, so there’s less medicine available than it seems.
PF ministers are now being heard and seen because their boss HEMCS has DIRECTED them to work. Without his word of command , they are neither seen or heard. What kind of work culture is that? Any wonder even as they come out, they are busy contradicting themselves or failing to provide proper answers to questions of national issues, let alone articulate anything. Just look at their explanations on the subsidies! So embarassing.
why do they have to be ‘directed’ in order for them to work?
Chikusu also advise your zra officers at the border they shouldnt delay the trucks carring arvs by holding on papers for a week
if you are not inffected your are affected please have a speedy follow of these drugs to various health centres a.s.a.p going forward..infact you should ask yr self as a minister or deputy minister why was i employed by the people?is not not to serve them?