mmegi

A nightmare develops in HIV treatment

Old enemy: Botswana is among four countries that have achieved the near-impossible 95-95-95 targets for HIV/AIDS
Old enemy: Botswana is among four countries that have achieved the near-impossible 95-95-95 targets for HIV/AIDS

The country’s recent world-beating achievement in the fight against HIV/AIDS, could be undone by reports that some patients are going without ARVs, while a shortage of HIV test kits mean many aren’t monitoring their viral loads. Mmegi Correspondent NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE reports

In interviews and field visits in the last two weeks, Mmegi has established that many local health facilities that do not have pharmacists on duty, are not dispensing Antiretroviral medication, popularly known as ARVs, and that there is also a shortage of HIV test kits.

The investigation was sparked by complaints from some People Living with HIV (PLHIV) that they were experiencing troubles getting their ARVs from their regular clinics as pharmacists have disappeared due to an ongoing industrial action.

Editor's Comment
Child protection needs more than prevailing laws

The rise in defilement and missing persons cases, particularly over the recent festive period, points not merely to a failure of policing, but to a profound and widespread societal crisis. Whilst the Police chief’s plea is rightly directed at parents, the root of this emergency runs deeper, demanding a collective response from every corner of our community. Marathe’s observations paint a picture of neglect with children left alone for...

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