Kenyans living with HIV/AIDs have been told to take their antiretroviral (ARVs) pills daily without fear of running out.
In a statement, the Division of National AIDS and STI Control Program assured that there is enough stock of ARVs for both prevention and treatment at the Antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites.
“ARVs should, therefore, be taken daily without skipping doses or sharing. Recipients of care are also advised not to refill ARVs before their due dates for fear of running out,” the Division said.
“In case of any further clarification and clinical support, please contact 0726460000.”
The announcement comes amidst fears among patients whose medications have been funded by the US government since 2003 at the height of the AIDS pandemic scourge.
The 90-day freeze of the USAID announced by President Donald Trump on January 20 would see Kenya lose over Sh25 billion yearly.
Over the last two decades, the US government, through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has spent more than $8 billion on HIV/AIDS treatment for close to 1.3 million people in Kenya.
PEPFAR supplied 40 percent of the country’s HIV drugs and supplies
Earlier in the month, a health official who spoke to the media and who sought anonymity said stocks of two critical HIV treatments, Dolutegravir and Nevirapine, were low.
Dolutegravir is often used to treat HIV and tuberculosis coinfections, while Nevirapine is often used to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
Commenting on the same, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said there would be enough Dolutegravir to last five months and Nevirapine to last eight months once Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS) stocks were released
On January 29, Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth also assured the public that the government has a sufficient supply of ARVs that will remain consistently available.
"I want to assure Kenyans that we have sufficient stock of HIV commodities, including ARVs and testing commodities. We have strengthened our supply chain pipeline to ensure continuous availability," Amoth affirmed
Kenya has the seventh-largest number of people living with HIV in the world, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data.
