NAC to the rescue of HIV patients

THE National Aids Council (NAC) has come up with measures to ensure people living with HIV are not affected by restrictions on movements meant to curb the coronavirus when seeking anti-retroviral drugs.

HIV and Aids intervention programmes came under threat when the country went into lockdown on March 30, as there were challenges in accessing anti-retroviral treatment.

NAC chief executive officer Dr Benard Madzima said the council had facilitated travel documents for patients.

“Covid-19 had a negative effect, especially in the first weeks of lockdown from March 30, where our clients ended up not being able to travel to collect their medications,” he said.

“But we then worked with various sectors to make sure that either they got refills for three months or they got the necessary papers to travel to get their drugs.”

NAC also alerted authorities enforcing the lockdown to waiver travel restrictions for people seeking medication.

There were also challenges in accessing the foreign currency needed to import commodities and equipment crucial for HIV and Aids response initiatives.

“Most of our commodities and equipment is imported. The shortage of foreign currency has affected NAC from the aspect of ensuring that we have commodities, ARV drugs, laboratory equipment to staff salaries,” he said.

“We continue to engage our partners — UNAids, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), Global Fund, Pepfar (President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) and USAid — to make sure we do not run out of the essential commodities for HIV response,” he said.

NAC is mandated to facilitate a multi-sectoral response to HIV and Aids in the country.