Zimbabwe to introduce new method of taking ARVs

The Government will soon introduce a new method of administering anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs to pregnant women as part of efforts to eliminate mother-to-child HIV infections. The method, known as Option B plus, will see women living with the virus take one drug combination during and after pregnancy.

The drug contains tenofovir, lamuvidine and efavirenz and will limit the risk of defaulting.

Presently, zidovudine medication is taken twice a day while a single dose of nevirapine is taken at the onset of labour. Another combination of zidovudine and lamivudine drugs is administered for seven days after delivery. The director of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, Dr Angela Mushavi, said Option B plus was effective.

"As the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, we have been pushing for Option B plus to be officially used countrywide in order to achieve our main goal of eliminating new HIV infections in children and keep the mothers alive by 2015.

"The Government approved this new approach in February this year and already, the method is being used by some private health institutions. We are still mobilising resources to ensure the drugs are available at all Government sites so that every woman will have access to them."

Dr Mushavi said Option B plus is already being used at Government sites in Manicaland and Masvingo, adding that the remaining provinces will also access the drug over the next three months.

"Using Option B plus, HIV-positive pregnant women will be taking only one ARV drug that contains tenofovir, lamuvidine and efavirenz once a day. This improves efficiency as there will not be any inconveniences due to lack of adherence.

"Besides being more effective in preventing the child from contracting the virus, the new approach also improves the mother's health because there will be a continuous uptake of ARVs and, thus, no treatment interruptions."