Project to tackle ARVs default rate in Nkhata Bay

A consortium of six organisations under the Coalition of Women Living with HIV and Aids (Cowlha) has announced plans to implement Bringing Kids Living With HIV to Care project to address high default rate of anti-retroviral therapy (ARVs) treatment in Nkhata Bay District.

Speaking on Saturday during a district Aids coordinating committee meeting, Reach Trust executive director Kingsley Chikaphupha, whose organisation is under the consortium, said there are 5 573 defaulters on HIV treatment in the district.

“The project will primarily target children from zero to 14 years as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers because they are the group defaulting the treatment,” he said.

Chikaphupha also said they want to ensure that all children living with HIV are brought back to care and live a healthy life.

Nkhata Bay District Council principal nutrition, HIV and Aids officer Margaret Bulirani said the HIV prevalance rate is high in the district.

“This project will help reduce the default rate among children living with HIV. A lot of children start taking ARVs, but later they stop for various reasons. So, this project will benefit the district,” she said.

The project will also be implemented in Chiradzulu and Thyolo districts.

In random interviews, residents welcomed the project, saying it will help to reduce the further spread of HIV in the lakeshore district.

Peter Ng’oma, a resident, said the project will help the country achieve the 95:95:95 campaign.