A high percentage of HIV-positive joburgers have reportedly missed their clinic appointments to collect medication due to fears of contracting the Covid-19 pandemic.
There has also been a drastic drop in the number of people who usually test for HIV since the lockdown was promulgated over 50 days ago.
This is according to Right to Care, a non-profit organisation that supports and delivers prevention, care, and treatment services to HIV and TB patients.
The organisation’s CEO, Professor Ian Sanne says data from various districts they support reveals increasing numbers of missed appointments to collect treatment.
“It is critical for patients on chronic medication to continue collecting their treatment and to take it routinely,” stresses Professor Sanne.
He says people who have contracted HIV but are yet to be diagnosed, or those who are not adhering to prescriptions for medication have an increased risk of worse outcomes should they contract the novel coronavirus.
Joburg residents are urged to register for ATM pharmacy services, which make it easier for patients to access medication in their neighbourhood. These state-of-the-art pharmacies are located in the following areas:
• Soweto: Baragwanath Mall in Diepkloof and Ndofaya Mall in Meadowlands
• Diepsloot: Bambanani Mall and
• Alexandra: Alex Plaza
Sanne urges patients to use this centralised chronic medicine dispensing and distribution point, which is a free service that helps people access their government-issued medication more easily outside of a clinic.
Registered patients can collect their medication from convenient pick-up points like Dis-Chem, Clicks, Pick ‘n Pay, community halls, private doctors or even a local spaza shop.
Written by Takalani Sioga
