The ManicaPost
Catherine Murombedzi
THE just-ended Scientific AIDS conference in Paris, France gave hope to millions of people taking life-long anti-HIV medication.
Anti-retroviral medication is currently taken for life. Many people on this life medication have found taking tablets daily a challenge and some have forgotten to take the daily doses, putting their life in danger in the process.
Failing to take prescribed doses is defaulting and many have lost their lives.
The current tablets taken every day help maintain the strict regimen required to keep (HIV) at bay. It, however, still poses a major challenge to many who are infected who find adherence a challenge. That may soon change.
Last week in Paris, scientists reported an important advance in the development of a long-acting injection that combines two drugs, cabotegravir and rilpivirine. This appears to be safe and effective in suppressing HIV compared to the daily oral pill.
Speaking to people on life-long medication at the weekend, most said it was a relief.
Mr John Parwe, however, said it was premature to pop the champagne.
“Let us not rush to embrace everything new. Let them try the injections somewhere else. I do not need an injection if I have no problem with the tablets,” said Mr Parwe.
Ms Susan Kure of Kariba, said she welcomed the news and would love to be on the injection.
“The injection will revolutionarise lives for us on ARVs. Taking tablets everyday is not a joke. I take a tablet every night and at times my son reminds me after I would have forgotten. When he is away I forget, so a jab is a relief. I am happy,” said Ms Kure.
Mr Joseph Muti from Bezel Bridge, said he would not rush to be on the injection. He would rather wait and see.
“For me, tablets have not given me any problems. I am not in a hurry to try injections. Why change when tablets have not given me any problems,” said Muti.
Dr Davies Rimbi, said moving to the injections had its pros and cons.
“The injection will make life manageable for many urban people. However, that is not the case for the majority in rural areas. Our rural health centres need cash to upgrade their pharmaceutical departments.
“As you know injections are usually refrigerated and that is not easily available in most of our rural health centres. Even for some of our urban clinics they have small fridges, so the whole system needs money to be able to in a position to keep this medication,” said Dr Rimbi.
An activist from Zengeza, Ms Idah Gonzo, said she welcomed the news and awaits our health system to embrace it.
“ARVs in the form of an injection is the best news to come this decade. I trust our scientists and do not doubt them. I am pleased with the good life changing news,” said Ms Gonzo.
As a country, Zimbabwe is open to new tested innovations and our parent health ministry will soon update us on the issue.
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