More than 6 000 HIV/AIDS patients in Oshana Region have defaulted on taking antiretrovirals (ARVs) in the past few years.
This was revealed during the Oshana state of the region address on Friday.
“It is disapproving to learn that Oshakati Intermediate Hospital has registered defaulters to ARVs in their thousands during the past few years. This is bad news to say the least,” said Oshana Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa during his address.
Despite the high default figure, the number of people on ARVs in the region has increased from 20 821 in 2014 to 24 384 in 2016.
According to the governor, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MHSS) has committed itself to making both human and material resources available in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Also raising concern over the high default rate, the Ongwediva Constituency Councillor Andreas Uutoni appealed that HIV-positive patients be considered vulnerable and be issued with drought relief food.
Uutoni believes the defaulting could be linked to lack of meals, which must be taken with the ARVs.
Through intensified educational campaigns in the region, HIV/AIDS prevalence has gradually declined by 17.1 percent between 1998 and 2016.
“These efforts have caused an HIV/AIDS prevalence gradual drop from 34 percent in 1998 to 16.9 percent in 2016 in Oshana Region. This is a great achievement for us as a region,” said the regional governor.
HIV infection rate among babies has also significantly dropped from 3 percent in 2013 to 0.5 percent in 2016.
According to the governor the reduction of HIV infection among babies is an indication that ARV treatment is making a positive impact in pregnant women.
The governor said N$25 million of the N$100 million allocated to the health ministry in 2015 was spent on continuous renovations and upgrading of Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, while N$15 million was spent on the construction and renovation of the Oshana regional management team office.
Renovation of the two institutions is budgeted for in the next two financial years – 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. MHSS has also budgeted to maintain and rehabilitate outdated health infrastructure, construction of the mental health centre and the Oshakati regional training centre in the next two financial years.
The long-awaited Ondangwa district hospital is now in its first phase of construction. The governor said the process is planned for which N$70 million is budgeted for over the next two years.