Community-based ART programme starts in Blantyre
People living with HIV and Aids (PLWHAs) in Nancholi and Manyowe in Blantyre are now receiving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) right in their community, thanks to Nancholi Youth Organisation (Nayo).
The organisation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with government, giving the organisation authority to pilot a community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in its catchment area.
Nayo projects coordinator, George Nedi, said in an interview that the aim of the programme is to reduce the distance HIV patients cover when commuting to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), where they get ART services.
“Our research indicates that some PLWHAs had stopped taking ARVs because they could not manage costs for travelling to and from QECH,” said Nedi.
He added that the community-based ART models are a critical component for Malawi to achieve the 90-90-90 targets to be achieved by 2020.
Set by UNAids in 2014, the 90-90-90 targets to have 90 percent of the population know their status, 90 percent of people diagnosed with HIV to be on ART, and 90 percent of patients on ART be retained in care and have their viral load suppressed, by 2020. The ultimate goal is to end Aids by 2030.
Currently, Malawi has 500 000 people on the ART programme, according to Director of HIV and Aids Unit in the Ministry of Health Frank Chimbwandira. About 10 percent of Malawi’s estimated 16 million population is living with HIV.
Chimbwandira said recently that 15 percent of those on ART stopped taking the life-prolonging drugs due to long distances to their nearest health centres.
