17 Jul 2014

Ngamiland District Health Management Team (DHMT) has recorded 106 cases of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) defaulters.

HAART is the name given to aggressive treatment regimens used to suppress HIV viral replication and the progression of AIDS.

Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital head of preventive care, Ms Gasebotho Kedikilwe revealed that HAART defaulters werea serious concern despite efforts made to offer counseling. She was briefing the Minister’s Fraternal about patients with psycho-social problems.

She stated that some reasons forwarded by defaulters such as fatigue to take treatment, lack of support from family members, shortage of food, alcohol consumption adding that some stopped because their CD4 count had been increased.

She said some patients revealed that they defaulted because their partners wanted to have babies while some stopped because of religious and cultural beliefs.

Ms Kedikilwe also indicated that they recorded high number of para-suicide and teenage pregnancy incidents. 

She said they have seen 36 patients of para-suicide and over 100 drop-outs from schools due to teenage pregnancy.

She appealed to members of Ministers’ Fraternal to help patients to adjust to illness or cope with their situation.

 “You should be vigilant enough to see if your congregation is not fit or has depression and if so refer them to health facilities accordingly,” she said.

She said it is the DHMT objective to interact with Minister’s fraternal to fight social illness and also to promote participation in health related programs and issues.

Ms Kedikilwe also indicated that it is important to profile all churches in the district and understand their cultures and practices.

She said they are mandated to ensure churches are operated in conducive environments adding that they have to ensure there is proper infrastructure and enough ablutions, adding that some diseases such as Tuberculosis easily spread if there is congestion.

She said they discourage worshiping in open space because the congregation is exposed to harsh weathers adding that sanitation is also compromised. 

“It is very crucial to profile churches because we use them as our platform to disseminate health messages on various topics,” she added. ENDS