HIV patients dodge drugs following an acute shortage of food
BY SANDRA BABIRYE
Persons Living with HIV in rural parts of Soroti have stopped taking Anti-Retroviral Drugs following an acute shortage of food.
The patients say they are afraid of the adverse effects of the drugs if taken without food.
Martin Amodoi, the Soroti District HIV Focal Person has confirmed that persons on antiretroviral therapy have been hardest-hit by the current food crisis.
He adds that they are alarmed by reports that few people are now picking up ARVs from health centers.
Some of the health units that have reported a drop in number of ARV uptake include Katine health center IV, Gweri, and Asuret among others.
Meanwhile, the Soroti District Health Secretary Calvin Elenyu says the relief food which was recently distributed by the Office of the Prime Minister was insufficient and several HIV patients missed out.
