SA trekkers increase ART default in Mangochi

The fight against HIV and Aids in Mangochi remains a challenge due to some people’s behaviour, who despite being on antiretroviral therapy (ART), trek to South Africa and other far away places without taking their ARTs.

The behaviour has strongly been condemned because it is culminating in more deaths which could have been prevented or delayed.

Speaking on Wednesday at Mulibwanji Hospital in Traditional Authority (T/A) Bwananyambi in the district during an awareness campaign which the Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Affected by HIV/Aids (Manerela+) organised, the organisation’s acting executive director Alli Mwachande riled the behaviour, saying it is retrogressive in the fight against the pandemic.

“What these people forget is that by defaulting the life prolonging drugs they are also digging their own graves. And this is a menace that should be condemned in strongest terms,” said Mwachande.

He added: “Stop taking Anti-Retroviral Therapy [ARVs] has a consequence because it makes the once boosted immunity weak makes a person susceptible to any disease that may come and this results in death.”

Speaking at the same function, Group Village Head (GVH) Masuku pledged to embark on a sensitisation campaign with other stakeholders to educate the people to curb the malpractice. n