Fight Against HIV/AIDS Dealt Huge Blow as ARVs Shortage Bites

The shortage of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in Kenya’s health facilities is a ballooning crisis that requires prompt action to save the lives of over 60,000 newborns.

The drugs in question are given to newborn children to secure them from contracting the virus and cut down the virus count in the body. The drugs hence reduce the chances of mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

Lack of ARV drugs in the hospitals could see thousands of infants exposed to HIV and portend a possible spread of the virus in future which could be more expensive for the government to contain.

Nevirapine (NVP)

Nevirapine is an anti-HIV drug used to reduce the amount of virus in the body. Nevirapine slows down damage to the immune system by the HIV virus and prevents the occurrence of AIDS-defining illnesses.

Zidovudine (AZT)

Zidovudine is used in pregnant women who are HIV-positive to prevent passing the virus to the unborn baby. Zidovudine is also used in babies born to mothers who are HIV-positive to avoid infection in the newborns.

Nevirapine and Zidovudine are some of the most important ARV drugs missing in Kenya’s public health facilities. The current state of ARV shortage leaves HIV-positive mothers helpless in securing the health of their newborn babies from the virus.

All newborn babies exposed to the HIV virus are required to receive infant ARV prophylaxis doses of Zidovudine (AZT) and Nevirapine (NVP) for up to four-six weeks.

The shortage of ARVs in the Country is expected to land a huge blow to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Counties hardest hit by the ARV shortage are Nairobi, which is ironically the capital of Kenya, Mombasa, and Uasin Gishu.

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