ARVs shortage panic in Phalombe
Shortage of the life prolonging anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment drugs has hit Phalombe hospitals.
Ministry of Health has been experiencing shortage of ARVs in the past few weeks and this has caused panic to patients in Phalombe that the situation might leave those suffering from the affliction in serious trouble.
Patients have been going to the hospitals only to be told that they should go back and come later. Sometimes the patients have been told to share the dosage an idea which has been described as dangerous.
Malawi Network of people Living with Hiv (manet + ) and its affiliates on Wednesday organized a media briefing where they expressed the concern over the ARVs shortages.
Manet plus executive director Safari Mbewe urged government to send the drugs as soon as possible.
Mbewe also urged government to investigate what has caused the shortages.
“We are of the opinion that someone has not performed his duties well so we want government to investigate on the matter,” said Mbewe.
Currently Phalombe has 24,000 people on ART programme.
Mbewe also urged Ministry of Health to consider decentralising powers to procure ARVs to the District Health Officers because the district will have true picture of what is on the ground.
Nambazo Health Centre, Nkhulambe boarders Mozambique district making themselves vulnerable to Mozambique patients.
“Malawi government should engage Mozambique government on cost sharing initiative for health resources targeting health facilities lying along border districts,” said Mbewe.
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