Communicable disease cases decline at Naledi
HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) infections in Old Naledi have not gone up since the outbreak of the Coronavirus (Covid 19) pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has said.
In an interview this week, Ministry of Health spokesperson, Christopher Nyanga says it is possible that the movement restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic may have assisted in bringing down the infection rates.
The total number of people who tested positive for HIV in Old Naledi stood at 74 in 2019, 16 in 2020 and 44 so far in 2021, while for Tuberculosis, 41 people were recorded in 2019, and 34 in 2020 while 22 were recorded for 2021 so far.
For Sexually Transmitted Infections, 217 cases were registered in August 2019 and 211 in the same period last year.
“Nonetheless, it is also possible that restrictions brought about by the pandemic also reduced the number of people going for tests”, Nyanga added, emphasising that generally, infections for both HIV and TB have not gone up in 2021.
“We believe that the reason for this was the restrictions in movement of people which may have contained any possible spread of the diseases”, Nyanga said.
He said although interventions were made to have some patients take more medication to cater for an extended period of time while others did not honour appointments for refills thereby defaulting.
HIV Activist Bonosi Segadimo who also serves as a Linkage officer at BTA Clinic under Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme (BOCAIP) witnessed it all.
“I would receive calls from patients complaining that clinics won’t
assist them during lockdown periods, and this would lead to some patients defaulting”, she says.
Nyanga however, said that although it was at first, the Ministry was still able to balance the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic alongside other existing diseases like HIV/AIDS and TB.
“All those requiring drugs were still allowed to access health facilities even during lockdowns. Further, to avoid going to health facilities more often, patients are now given more drugs and medication to last longer than during the times before the pandemic”, he said.
Nyanga reiterates that dispensing medication that lasts for weeks and in some cases months helps reduce patients’ visits to health facilities.
As for Old Naledi clinic, one of the health facilities
in the country that offers support for HIV and TB during the Covid era, Nyanga responded: “HIV and TB issues in Old Naledi are well managed and the situation is under control”.
The clinic has a variety of services including; Focal persons allocated for both programmes, HIV services supported by Government partners like Botswana University of Maryland School of Medicine Health initiatives (BUMMHI) and Centre for Youth of Hope (CEYOHO), Tuberculosis services supported by BOCAIP and resources to manage both programmes are available.
Nyanga says that aggressive public education that was rolled out at Old Naledi, as well as other areas in the country, has been impactful.
(Supported by WANIFRA WIN SIRI)