HEALTH-KENYA:Using ARVs to Fill Empty Stomachs

June 2, 2006

HEALTH-KENYA:

Using ARVs to Fill Empty Stomachs

Joyce Mulama

NAIROBI, Jun 2 (IPS) - " ARVs can change things, but they do not change

my socio-economic status. Yes, I get the ARVs; but I cannot afford to

put a simple meal on the table, " says a man who insists on being

identified only as wa Kimani.

" This is why I had to register at two treatment sites, so that I could

get ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) twice: utilise one set from one site,

then sell the other batch from the second site, so that I can get

something small to put in my stomach. "

Wa Kimani spoke to IPS outside one of the centres where he obtains

treatment, his face perspiring in the hot sun as he sat on a stone,

awaiting the client who buys medication from him. The stigma that

continues to surround AIDS in Kenya has apparently made the client

wary of obtaining ARVs through official channels -- something he fears

may lead to his HIV-positive status being made public.

Wa Kimani, who is unemployed, began selling the drugs last year. He

charges his client just under seven dollars for a month's worth of

medication.

" This is not much, but at least it helps me purchase some basic food

so that I do not take the medicine on an empty stomach. It can be

dangerous, you know, " wa Kimani says.

" I remember once, before I thought of the trade, I would take the

medicine without any food -- just porridge alone. I nearly died. I got

so weak, I developed ulcers which have not healed well until now. "

Until the beginning of this month, government facilities had been

charging about 1.4 dollars for the same amount of ARVs; however, the

fee was waived from Jun. 1. About two million people are living with

HIV/AIDS in Kenya -- more than 200,000 of whom require ARVs.

Wa Kimani's case does not seem to be unique.

Asero, a member of the Kenya Treatment Access Movement, heard

of six other people receiving ARVs from more than one centre last year.

" I got interested and investigated the matter further because these

people belong to the same support group as me. I found out that they

had registered in more than one treatment centre so that they could

get extra drugs to sell and buy food to take with medication, " she

told IPS.

In some cases, patients who only have one source of drugs will also

sell their ARVs to buy food, added Asero. However, they present a

different tale to staff at their treatment centres.

" They will tell you that their medication got lost; others claim that

their bags were snatched by thieves. But when you interrogate them

keenly, you get to know the truth, " she noted. Asero is also an

HIV/AIDS counselor at a government hospital.

Other patients who live long distances from ARV sites and who are too

weak to walk to there -- also too poor to afford transport -- simply

skip treatment, using what money they have to buy food.

With official figures indicating that about 56 percent of the

population lives below the poverty line, the temptation that certain

HIV-positive Kenyans face to sell their medication is unlikely to

diminish in the near future.

" The fight against HIV/AIDS must be coupled with the fight against

poverty. If not, we are wasting our time, " says Omu Anzala, a senior

lecturer in the Department of Medical Microbiology at Nairobi

University's School of Medicine. Nairobi is the Kenyan capital.

The government claims to have steadily increased the number of persons

who are receiving ARV medication in recent years: 39,000 patients were

treated in 2005, up from 24,000 in 2004. The aim was to have 95,000

people on the drugs by the start of 2006.

But, says Anzala, " The government should get away from giving us

numbers. It should be concerned about the quality and sustainability

of the service. These numbers mean nothing when the majority of the

patients are skipping or selling drugs. "

The alleged sale of ARVs by some patients, and the erratic way in

which others are said to take the medicine, has raised fears of

drug-resistant strains of HIV in Kenya.

At present, there are only about 24 ARVs on the market -- and at any

one time, a patient must be on three. If present trends continue, says

Anzala, " we may not have any ARVs to talk about, since people will be

resistant on all of them. "

" There is a need to monitor people and to see if they are taking their

medication as required, as well as monitor resistant strains of the

disease. "

Others claim that these problems would be circumvented if more

attention was given to the matter of nutrition.

" When we talk about comprehensive care in HIV/AIDS, nutrition is part

of it. But the government has neglected it; it only provides

nutritional counseling and that is it, " notes Asero.

" Some treatment centres may only give a packet of ujimix (porridge

flour) per month. This is nothing. "

A report issued last month by the International Treatment Preparedness

Coalition, a grouping of AIDS organisations from across the world,

also cites lack of nutrition as a major obstacle in the war against

HIV/AIDS in Kenya.

" Nutritional support is still minimal except for nutritional

education, " says the document, titled 'Missing the Target -- Off

Target for 2010: How to Avoid Breaking the Promise of Universal Access'.

The report was released last week ahead of the United Nations General

Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, which opened May 31 in New York.

Health officials say they are trying to improve nutrition amongst AIDS

patients.

" There are activities going on to provide this service. Most of the

hospitals are implementing it, " Mwaniki, head of the Technical

Support Department in the National AIDS Control Council, told IPS.

" But, we need to work further to strengthen it. " (END/2006)

June 2, 2006

HEALTH-KENYA:

Using ARVs to Fill Empty Stomachs

Joyce Mulama

NAIROBI, Jun 2 (IPS) - " ARVs can change things, but they do not change

my socio-economic status. Yes, I get the ARVs; but I cannot afford to

put a simple meal on the table, " says a man who insists on being

identified only as wa Kimani.

" This is why I had to register at two treatment sites, so that I could

get ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) twice: utilise one set from one site,

then sell the other batch from the second site, so that I can get

something small to put in my stomach. "

Wa Kimani spoke to IPS outside one of the centres where he obtains

treatment, his face perspiring in the hot sun as he sat on a stone,

awaiting the client who buys medication from him. The stigma that

continues to surround AIDS in Kenya has apparently made the client

wary of obtaining ARVs through official channels -- something he fears

may lead to his HIV-positive status being made public.

Wa Kimani, who is unemployed, began selling the drugs last year. He

charges his client just under seven dollars for a month's worth of

medication.

" This is not much, but at least it helps me purchase some basic food

so that I do not take the medicine on an empty stomach. It can be

dangerous, you know, " wa Kimani says.

" I remember once, before I thought of the trade, I would take the

medicine without any food -- just porridge alone. I nearly died. I got

so weak, I developed ulcers which have not healed well until now. "

Until the beginning of this month, government facilities had been

charging about 1.4 dollars for the same amount of ARVs; however, the

fee was waived from Jun. 1. About two million people are living with

HIV/AIDS in Kenya -- more than 200,000 of whom require ARVs.

Wa Kimani's case does not seem to be unique.

Asero, a member of the Kenya Treatment Access Movement, heard

of six other people receiving ARVs from more than one centre last year.

" I got interested and investigated the matter further because these

people belong to the same support group as me. I found out that they

had registered in more than one treatment centre so that they could

get extra drugs to sell and buy food to take with medication, " she

told IPS.

In some cases, patients who only have one source of drugs will also

sell their ARVs to buy food, added Asero. However, they present a

different tale to staff at their treatment centres.

" They will tell you that their medication got lost; others claim that

their bags were snatched by thieves. But when you interrogate them

keenly, you get to know the truth, " she noted. Asero is also an

HIV/AIDS counselor at a government hospital.

Other patients who live long distances from ARV sites and who are too

weak to walk to there -- also too poor to afford transport -- simply

skip treatment, using what money they have to buy food.

With official figures indicating that about 56 percent of the

population lives below the poverty line, the temptation that certain

HIV-positive Kenyans face to sell their medication is unlikely to

diminish in the near future.

" The fight against HIV/AIDS must be coupled with the fight against

poverty. If not, we are wasting our time, " says Omu Anzala, a senior

lecturer in the Department of Medical Microbiology at Nairobi

University's School of Medicine. Nairobi is the Kenyan capital.

The government claims to have steadily increased the number of persons

who are receiving ARV medication in recent years: 39,000 patients were

treated in 2005, up from 24,000 in 2004. The aim was to have 95,000

people on the drugs by the start of 2006.

But, says Anzala, " The government should get away from giving us

numbers. It should be concerned about the quality and sustainability

of the service. These numbers mean nothing when the majority of the

patients are skipping or selling drugs. "

The alleged sale of ARVs by some patients, and the erratic way in

which others are said to take the medicine, has raised fears of

drug-resistant strains of HIV in Kenya.

At present, there are only about 24 ARVs on the market -- and at any

one time, a patient must be on three. If present trends continue, says

Anzala, " we may not have any ARVs to talk about, since people will be

resistant on all of them. "

" There is a need to monitor people and to see if they are taking their

medication as required, as well as monitor resistant strains of the

disease. "

Others claim that these problems would be circumvented if more

attention was given to the matter of nutrition.

" When we talk about comprehensive care in HIV/AIDS, nutrition is part

of it. But the government has neglected it; it only provides

nutritional counseling and that is it, " notes Asero.

" Some treatment centres may only give a packet of ujimix (porridge

flour) per month. This is nothing. "

A report issued last month by the International Treatment Preparedness

Coalition, a grouping of AIDS organisations from across the world,

also cites lack of nutrition as a major obstacle in the war against

HIV/AIDS in Kenya.

" Nutritional support is still minimal except for nutritional

education, " says the document, titled 'Missing the Target -- Off

Target for 2010: How to Avoid Breaking the Promise of Universal Access'.

The report was released last week ahead of the United Nations General

Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, which opened May 31 in New York.

Health officials say they are trying to improve nutrition amongst AIDS

patients.

" There are activities going on to provide this service. Most of the

hospitals are implementing it, " Mwaniki, head of the Technical

Support Department in the National AIDS Control Council, told IPS.

" But, we need to work further to strengthen it. " (END/2006)

June 5, 2006

Chifu, All...........

Ugh......you see! The Ink in my other posting has not dried yet and now this.Again, on poverty, we lead kwa point na kwa barabara.What were they thinking? I'd do exactly the same.Can it be an oversight to those who run this programs. I don't think so.It happens everyday and to some, its not just to feed themselves but their families.I was talking to one of my Doz plus

orphans in Kenya last week and he said he's no longer going for ARV's like he used to.I was going ballistic! Mmmmh... he would love to continue with the treatment if he could afford the

Busfare.The nearest place by matutu cost kes.300 one way.Yes Sir.Under $ 4

dollars but the poor student has no one to help him.Still, he's in a better position than most people.At least he gets to eat one decent meal a day.Sukumawiki na Ugali.Remember not too long my late 8 yr old baby Benjelina was denied meds for lack of $ 8 in Kisumu.( May she R.I.P)

Listen, Am getting worked up for nothing.Let me go back to my ''quite'' corner in KCA and

watch the dramas unfold..

Will be back......when I cool off.

Wams

On 6/2/06, Chifu <chifu2222@...> wrote:

HEALTH-KENYA:Using ARVs to Fill Empty StomachsJoyce MulamaNAIROBI, Jun 2 (IPS) - " ARVs can change things, but they do not change

my socio-economic status. Yes, I get the ARVs; but I cannot afford toput a simple meal on the table, " says a man who insists on beingidentified only as wa Kimani. " This is why I had to register at two treatment sites, so that I could

get ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) twice: utilise one set from one site,then sell the other batch from the second site, so that I can getsomething small to put in my stomach. " Wa Kimani spoke to IPS outside one of the centres where he obtains

treatment, his face perspiring in the hot sun as he sat on a stone,awaiting the client who buys medication from him. The stigma thatcontinues to surround AIDS in Kenya has apparently made the clientwary of obtaining ARVs through official channels -- something he fears

may lead to his HIV-positive status being made public.Wa Kimani, who is unemployed, began selling the drugs last year. Hecharges his client just under seven dollars for a month's worth ofmedication.

" This is not much, but at least it helps me purchase some basic foodso that I do not take the medicine on an empty stomach. It can bedangerous, you know, " wa Kimani says. " I remember once, before I thought of the trade, I would take the

medicine without any food -- just porridge alone. I nearly died. I gotso weak, I developed ulcers which have not healed well until now. " Until the beginning of this month, government facilities had been

charging about 1.4 dollars for the same amount of ARVs; however, thefee was waived from Jun. 1. About two million people are living withHIV/AIDS in Kenya -- more than 200,000 of whom require ARVs.Wa Kimani's case does not seem to be unique.

Asero, a member of the Kenya Treatment Access Movement, heardof six other people receiving ARVs from more than one centre last year. " I got interested and investigated the matter further because these

people belong to the same support group as me. I found out that theyhad registered in more than one treatment centre so that they couldget extra drugs to sell and buy food to take with medication, " she

told IPS.In some cases, patients who only have one source of drugs will alsosell their ARVs to buy food, added Asero. However, they present adifferent tale to staff at their treatment centres. " They will tell you that their medication got lost; others claim that

their bags were snatched by thieves. But when you interrogate themkeenly, you get to know the truth, " she noted. Asero is also anHIV/AIDS counselor at a government hospital.Other patients who live long distances from ARV sites and who are too

weak to walk to there -- also too poor to afford transport -- simplyskip treatment, using what money they have to buy food.With official figures indicating that about 56 percent of thepopulation lives below the poverty line, the temptation that certain

HIV-positive Kenyans face to sell their medication is unlikely todiminish in the near future. " The fight against HIV/AIDS must be coupled with the fight againstpoverty. If not, we are wasting our time, " says Omu Anzala, a senior

lecturer in the Department of Medical Microbiology at NairobiUniversity's School of Medicine. Nairobi is the Kenyan capital.The government claims to have steadily increased the number of personswho are receiving ARV medication in recent years: 39,000 patients were

treated in 2005, up from 24,000 in 2004. The aim was to have 95,000people on the drugs by the start of 2006.But, says Anzala, " The government should get away from giving usnumbers. It should be concerned about the quality and sustainability

of the service. These numbers mean nothing when the majority of thepatients are skipping or selling drugs. " The alleged sale of ARVs by some patients, and the erratic way inwhich others are said to take the medicine, has raised fears of

drug-resistant strains of HIV in Kenya.At present, there are only about 24 ARVs on the market -- and at anyone time, a patient must be on three. If present trends continue, saysAnzala, " we may not have any ARVs to talk about, since people will be

resistant on all of them. " " There is a need to monitor people and to see if they are taking theirmedication as required, as well as monitor resistant strains of thedisease. " Others claim that these problems would be circumvented if more

attention was given to the matter of nutrition. " When we talk about comprehensive care in HIV/AIDS, nutrition is partof it. But the government has neglected it; it only providesnutritional counseling and that is it, " notes Asero.

" Some treatment centres may only give a packet of ujimix (porridgeflour) per month. This is nothing. " A report issued last month by the International Treatment PreparednessCoalition, a grouping of AIDS organisations from across the world,

also cites lack of nutrition as a major obstacle in the war againstHIV/AIDS in Kenya. " Nutritional support is still minimal except for nutritionaleducation, " says the document, titled 'Missing the Target -- Off

Target for 2010: How to Avoid Breaking the Promise of Universal Access'.The report was released last week ahead of the United Nations GeneralAssembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, which opened May 31 in New York.

Health officials say they are trying to improve nutrition amongst AIDSpatients. " There are activities going on to provide this service. Most of thehospitals are implementing it, " Mwaniki, head of the Technical

Support Department in the National AIDS Control Council, told IPS. " But, we need to work further to strengthen it. " (END/2006)

June 5, 2006