Too many HIV-positive African patients still do not have access to antiretrovirals. In one region of Kenya, half of those infected have failed treatment, according to MSF.
Médecins Sans Frontières wants to attack HIV earlier. In Homa Bay (Kenya), where the virus is very present, half of HIV-positive people are in a situation of treatment failure, according to a study conducted by the humanitarian association. At issue: the lack of access to antiretroviral drugs, which delays the initiation of treatment, but also promotes treatment breaks.
At Homa Bay hospital in Ndhiwa sub-county, one third of hospitalizations are due to HIV infection. 690 patients were included in this study – which will be presented at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Africa (ICASA, November 29 – December 4, Zimbabwe). People living with HIV represent one in two deaths. It must be said that opportunistic infections are particularly frequent in this population, where the diagnosis is often made too late.
A quarter of affected adults
“Today, in African hospitals, patients continue to die of AIDS,” analyzes Aline Niyibizi, principal researcher. Although there are still people who have never been screened and taken care of, today we also find a significant proportion of patients who have encountered difficulties in monitoring their treatment and whose problems have never been detected. “
So many problems that promote the degradation of the immune system and the development of opportunistic diseases. To remedy this situation, MSF is attempting earlier screening or treatment in Ndhiwa canton. Ultimately, the humanitarian association wishes to increase the number of people with access to antiretrovirals, and this continuously. The choice of this area is not trivial: one in four adults is HIV positive.
“The massive increase in the possibilities of access to antiretroviral treatment should be accompanied by better patient support, early detection of treatment failures and better hospital care for patients requiring it”, hopes William Hennequin, chief. MSF mission in Kenya. In fact, in the world, the fall in the prices of antiretrovirals has been accompanied by a sharp increase in the number of HIV-positive people on treatment. But a major effort remains to be made. Of the 35 million people living with HIV, 20 million still do not have access to these precious medicines.
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