‘Unfriendly health services fueling ART default rate’
National Aids Commission (NAC) has expressed concern over revelations that some HIV positive youths are not adhering to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) due to unfriendly services by providers in health centres.
Speaking in Zomba at the end of youth constituency visits in Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba, NAC youth commissioner Chimwemwe Kaonga said he was saddened that some young people are being treated harshly when they want to access medication.
“Throughout these visits, young people have complained of poor service delivery in some health centres. As their representative, I cannot hide my fears and frustrations. We have to be serious as a country if we are to end HIV by 2030,” said Kaonga.
On her part, Association of Young People Living with HIV and Aids board chairperson, Violet Banda, said her association is working tirelessly with its partners in strengthening teen clubs and support groups for the youth.
According to research by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), HIV prevalence rate among children aged between 10 and 19 remains higher in Malawi than the national HIV prevalence rate. The research revealed that the adolescent prevalence rate is five percent higher than the national prevalence rate.
HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 64 years in Malawi is 10.6 percent: 12.8 percent among females and 8.2 percent among males. n
