Ugandan Men who are living in hiding with HIV are reported to be stealing AntiRetroViral drugs from their wives who get them from health centers.
A report released on 19 December 2013 by The Aids Support Organization (TASO), which supports 19,000 people living with HIV, reported that most of the men infected with the virus fear to disclose their status due to fear of the effects the stigma will cause them. This has caused many of them not to visit health facilities for medication.
Rose Akiror, the TASO Clients Council’s representative of people living with HIV was quoted by Speak Your Mind to have said: “Few men who are living with HIV get drugs [HIV medication] from health centres but unfortunately many force their women who are on treatment to share their drugs with them, which is putting those women’s lives in danger.
Akiror suggests that men need HIV education thus suggested a campaign targeting them to help them understand the danger of their status and how helpful it would be if their disclosed their status to their spouses.
The report noted there is still a high level of non adherence among people living with HIV with most not taking their medicine at the correct time, as well as failing to attend the health facility for reviews and to obtain further medication. Then improve access to HIV treatment and information about the disease.
The report noted there is still a high level of non adherence among people living with HIV with most not taking their medicine at the correct time, as well as failing to attend the health facility for reviews and to obtain further medication. Then improve access to HIV treatment and information about the disease.
If antiretrovirals can be accessed in village health facilities, people living with HIV will able to lead active lives by doing business and taking care of their homes. Distance to health facilities leads to less visit there becauses most men are working in their farms.
“Drunkenness is one of the causes, which can result in forgetfulness and recklessness such as forgetting to take medication and having unprotected sex,” Akiror explained.
Women like Sarah Amulen – quoted by Speak Your Mind- lose out and suffer because their husband take they antiretrovirals. “There is nothing I can do because even if I try to resist, he can beat me up,” she said. “If I report him to the local leaders, he can chase me away from his home and I don’t want to leave my children to suffer without my care. ”Because my husband takes them I don’t have enough to last me in between appointments at the health facility, so when I go to get more I’m asked why I don’t have any left.”
Amulen has asked the government and non-governmental organisations to help educate men about the dangers of not testing for HIV and taking drugs which they have not been prescribed.
