MAPUTO, July 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Health authorities in Mozambique’s western province of Tete have expressed concern over the sharp increase of HIV/Aids patients who abandon anti-retroviral treatment.
The officials say more than 4,600 HIV/Aids patients in the province have abandoned the treatment since the beginning of this year.
This is a 70% increase in drop-outs, compared to the same period last year, Dr Alex Bertil, the head of Tete’s Department of Public Health, said.
The long distances that patients have to travel for medicines and the fact that many people with HIV don’t tell their partners are some of the factors that contributed to the increase in the drop-outs, Dr Bertil added.
The problems are especially common in rural Mozambique.
According to official statistics, HIV/Aids prevalence in Mozambique rose from 11.5% to 13.3% between 2009 and 2015. — NNN-AGENCIES
