April 1, 2004
By Bontle Moeng
HAVING waited months for the go-ahead, HIV-positive patients at Johannesburg Hospital eagerly awaited the arrival of Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa and Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa to officially launch the roll-out of anti-retroviral treatment on 1 April.
The roll-out comes in the wake of cabinet's approval of the national government's plan for the comprehensive care, management and treatment of HIV and Aids.
After asking about 30 waiting patients what they felt about getting treatment, Shilowa was introduced to the doctors, dieticians, Aids councillors and professors who deal with HIV positive patients daily, and taken on a tour of the hospital. Health workers handed out Aids-awareness booklets, which are also available to the public.
Shilowa said it was important to go ahead with one particular programme, considering the amount of constraint exercised in giving out the drugs.
Responding to questions on the number of people who died before the roll-out, he said: "I'm doing it now that we have a planned programme. The programme could not be sustainable at that time and not enough research had been done. Although the number stands at treating 10 000 by the end of March next year, the number could increase depending on the hospitals' capacity."
Pharmacist Lara Cohen and Professor Jeff Wing handed over the first treatment to an HIV-positive man. The drugs included Ziret, 3TC, Stocrin and Philani, a nutritional supplement that will be given free at the hospitals.
Subsidised anti-retroviral treatment will be given to those patients who meet specific clinical criteria and the poor and vulnerable, those who are not on medical aid and who cannot afford to pay for treatment themselves will get priority.
Ramokgopa said the emphasis was on preventing new HIV infections: "There are 40 million South Africans who do not have HIV. For those who have it, let us help each other to lead healthy, productive and longer lives."
Nursing sister Alice Dlamini, who has worked in the HIV unit for only three months, said: " We see 60 to 70 patients daily. Anti-retroviral treatment works like any other drug; they have side-effects and at the same time help to control HIV. The person must take ART every day for the rest of their lives or else they will develop resistance." Some of the side-effects she mentioned were nausea, vomiting and rashes.
The medicines are available from five Gauteng hospitals: Johannesburg Hospital, and Chris Hani Baragwanath, Helen Joseph and Coronation hospitals in Johannesburg, and Pretoria's Kalafong Hospital.
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