Mahama-Rwanda: The Burundian refugees living with the HIV / AIDS in Mahama camp are afraid that their Health may worsen because of the living conditions that can lead to the resistance and mutation of the virus.
They say that it is a month without having access to the drug while adding that special eating for infected refugees is still a serious problem.
Meanwhile, this website has learnt that 203 people living with HIV in Mahama camp as of this moment of which 112 people have been on ARV treatment.
Kankesha Marie Louise, one of the refugees told IGIHE, that they were requested to give information about their historical drug prescription, but after that they haven’t yet received drugs.
“The UNHCR officials have asked us to give information about drugs that we used to take. We were about 80 although the number keeps going up due to new refugees that are arriving; but since we gave that information we have not yet received drugs.” Kankesha said
However ARC (American Refugees Committee) has been requested by UNHCR and MIDIMAR to be the lead partner in the provision of health care in the newly established Mahama refugee camp since mid April.
ARC Responds
In an E-mail sent to IGIHE’s reporter, Marleen L. Masclee / ARC Senior Program Coordinator /Rwanda Program said that ARC has established a HIV Program in Mahama camp with a HIV program Coordinator on site as well as a PMTCT nurse and soon 2 VCT counselors will join the team.
“The HIV program is part of the overall health provision and is therefore supported and led by a medical doctor and receiving technical guidance and additional support by ARC’s technical and management team in Kigali.” Marleen said.
The E-mail also explained that the HIV program is currently providing psychosocial and nutrition support to People Living with HIV (PLHIV), community awareness rising is taking place in collaboration with 80 Community Health Workers, and distribution of condoms is taking place.
Testing facilities are furthermore also available, while a fully fledged Voluntary Counseling and Testing department is under construction.
Close collaboration has been established with the District Ministry of Health for referral of complicated cases and for specialty services, such as ARV treatment; ARC says
For ARV treatment a discussion has taken place between the Ministry of Health, UNHCR and Global fund in order to be able to receive ARV treatment free of charge for all refugees in need (203 people living with HIV in Mahama camp as of this moment of which 112 people have been on ARV treatment).
The solution is near
ARC coordinator reveals that this discussion is in its final stage and therefore in the coming day’s refugees in need of ARV will receive them through the nearest MoH health center.
“The matter is being taken on seriously by all partners involved as when Anti retroviral drugs users interrupt treatment, it creates resistance and mutation of the virus thus the viral load increases and CD4 decreases which can worsen the condition of patients and opportunistic infections can also come in.” Marleen concludes.
E-mail: angedelavictoire@igihe.com
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