30,000+ on ARVs in Bulawayo

MORE than 30 000 patients are currently on anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs treatment at 16 Bulawayo City Council clinics, while 2 628 have died as a result of HIV since 2004, council has revealed.

As of the 2012 census, Bulawayo had a population of 653,377.

According to a report by the council's health, housing and education committee, 31 025 people are on ARV treatment with Nketa Clinic having the highest number and accounting for most deaths.

According to the report, by January, 3 257 patients were on treatment and 632 deaths were recorded at the clinic since 2004.

Njube Clinic caters for 770 patients on ARVs with four deaths recorded; Pelandaba has 3 082 patients and had 135 deaths; and Luveve 2 925 patients and 244 deaths.

Northern Suburbs had 1 811 patients and 68 deaths, Nkulumane 3 317 patients and 206 deaths; Entumbane 1 564 and 153 deaths; Mzilikazi 2 575 and 101 deaths; Magwegwe 2 264 and 235 deaths; and Tshabalala 851 and six deaths.

Pumula Clinic cares for 3 157 patients and has had 63 deaths; Khami Road Clinic 1 715 and 493 deaths; Emakhandeni 2 001 patients and 257 deaths; Maqhawe 1 105 patients and 31 deaths; Pumula South 370 patients and no deaths recoded so far.

EF Watson has 261 patients on ARVs, but has recorded no deaths.

The National Aids Council (NAC) Bulawayo office has embarked on a survey to determine the reasons behind the high default rate among people on antiretroviral therapy in the city.

According to figures from NAC, as of January, a total of 50 477 people in the city were on first-line antiretroviral therapy with females being the majority at 31 488 compared to 18 989 males.