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The
Gauteng Health Department says it is ready to implement the
next leg of its anti-retroviral (ARV) rollout campaign scheduled to
start in September.
Institutions identified as new distribution sites are Sebokeng
Hospital, Carletonville Hospital, Hillbrow Hospital, Discoverer
Clinic, Lilian Ngoyi Clinic and Zola Clinic.
A statement released by the department yesterday said it had
succesfully introduced ARV treatment for Aids sufferers in 12
hospitals throughout the province.
"This is in line with the department's plan to have 23 sites
providing anti-retroviral treatment by March 2005," it said.
In the first leg of the rollout campaign in April this year,
Johannesburg General, Chris Hani-Baragwanath, Helen Joseph,
Coronation and Kalafong hospitals began providing the
treatment.
George Mukhari, Pretoria Academic, Natalspruit, Leratong, Far East
Rand, Tembisa and Kopanong Hospitals followed suit in July.
"The total number of patients that have been seen at the hospitals
for ARV treatment since the roll out of the first phase in April
11, is 18 883.
"Of that number, 4536 actually met the criterion and began
receiving the treatment," said the department.
ARV treatment is only made available to HIV and Aids sufferers with
a CD4 count of 200 and below or who have the symptoms of
Aids.
"Patients that did not meet the treatment readiness criteria have
been referred back to their local clinics, with detailed letters
which include reasons for deferment of ARV treatment and possible
solutions to enable treatment uptake at a later stage," explained
the department.
"These include people with a CD4 count above 200 and those that
have symptoms of Aids. The range of interventions available for
this group includes counselling and psycho-social support,
encouraging healthy lifestyle and provision of nutritional
support," it said.
The rollout forms part of national governments Comprehensive Plan
for the Management, Care and Treatment of Aids, implemented after
approval by Cabinet last year. – BuaNews.
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