By People living with HIV in Ghana express distress as health officials start rationing antiretroviral drugs essential for their well-being.
According to JoyNews, the medications are rapidly depleting and are expected to be completely exhausted by May if no action is taken.
Elsie Ayeh, President of the National Association of Persons Living with HIV, expressed concern that a shipment of ARVs procured by the Health Ministry cannot be accounted for, raising suspicions of possible misplacement or theft.
Mrs. Ayeh highlighted that the last supply of antiretroviral (ARV) medication was received in October 2023.
Additionally, Mrs. Ayeh mentioned that she had received information indicating that more medicine had been procured through the Ministry of Health and was expected to arrive in Ghana between mid-December and the end of December in 2023, but unfortunately, it did not arrive.
“As I sit here, those ARVs have not arrived. In fact, they cannot be traced. Usually, when they are procured, you know, they are on the high seas; they are at the harbor waiting to be brought out and waiting to be cleared; this is a complete blackout on information”.
This situation has resulted in the reported rationing of antiretroviral drugs crucial for sustaining individuals living with HIV.
Additionally, Mrs. Ayeh highlighted delays in the release of malaria commodities, including malaria medication, which arrived at the port in May 2023.
She emphasized the significance of prompt distribution, particularly given the tendency for malaria cases to rise during the rainy season.
According to her, among the items awaiting distribution are bed nets for malaria prevention and test kits for early detection of malaria.
“And then injections; sometimes you are given the medications, the tablets, but then when the quantity of the MP is so high, you are given injections; those injections are also stuck at the port, that is, for malaria; the 200 containers stuck at the harbor contain mainly malaria commodities.”
On the other hand, the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Stephen Kyeremeh Atuahene, has refuted claims that a shipment of antiretrovirals procured by the Health Ministry cannot be accounted for.
“I am aware that the government procured ARV to fill the gap at least starting from May and if we do not receive government-procured ARV, that is when we begin to have shortage but presently, I cannot anticipate any shortage as being alleged and then speak to it specifically.
