Govt worried about drug resistant HIV, warns people on ARVs to take them religiously

Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa has revealed that at least 35 percent of people on antiretroviral drugs have been placed on the second line treatment because they were not recovering on first line treatment. He urged people on treatment to take their drugs religiously to avoid building resistance.

Said Parirenyatwa:

We are now aware that 35 percent of our people are on second line drugs which means there is some resistance. It is, however, not always resistance that they are put on second line, sometimes you just react to the first line drugs

We need to continue educating our people that if you are on ARVs, take them religiously otherwise you foster resistance.

The second line treatment is more expensive, while the third line is even more expensive.

More: Herald