Government investigating shortage of ARVs in Mzimba
Malawi Government has instituted investigations into allegations that lives of people living with HIV and Aids at Mbalachanda in Mzimba District are at risk due to shortage of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) at Mbalachanda Health Centre.
Mzimba District Hospital spokesperson Ellings Nyirenda said there have been complaints in the past that patients at Mbalachanda do not access ARVs, with some people speculating that the shortage was being worsened by residents who go to South Africa in search of greener pastures.
They claim that migrants are given ARVs to last them for several months, which leaves other patients without drugs.
Nyirenda, however, could not indicate when the results of the investigations would be out, saying the report will be produced by Ministry of Health headquarters in Lilongwe.
He said: “The complaints are from last year, but we have received them this year and so we have decided to launch investigations to establish if there are indeed such cases and how they can be addressed.”
Malawi Network of People Living with HIV and Aids (Manet+) executive director Safari Mbewe said his office engaged district health officials to investigate the matter after hearing about it on the radio.
There have been widespread reports recently, of the much sought after ARVs finding their way to neighbouring countries and even being used in the brewing of illicit alcoholic beverages.
