Stipends go - so HIV patients refuse drugs
THOUSANDS of people living with HIV in the North West are boycotting their antiretroviral treatment.
Patients, especially those based at home care centres, have taken this suicidal stance after their monthly stipends were suspended by the South African Security Agency (Sassa), a company contracted by the department of social development to monitor funds for beneficiaries eligible for government assistance.
The agency says it suspends stipends after patients complete five years' of treatment. However, Sassa spokesperson Zodwa Mvulani said patients were told to go back to their doctors to check their CD4 count.
"On advice from the doctor that the patient is still weak and need assistance, we will put them back on the payroll."
According to the Treatment Action Campaign - for antiretrovirals to work - patients must adhere to a daily regimen of ARVs for life.
Interrupting treatment can result in HIV becoming drug resistant, with first-line therapy no longer being effective.
The South African National Aids Council, which advises the government on Aids policy, has recommended raising the CD4 treatment threshold from 200 to 350 cells/mm.
A patient from Matlhonyane village near Mahikeng who declines to be named, said she would not take any more treatment until the government reinstated her R1080 stipend. "I used to buy healthy food for myself as well as provide for my family. Now that the government has cut my only income, my family goes to bed with empty stomachs."
Department of Health spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said: "We will meet with Sassa management to see if we can't come up with a solution to benefit everyone."
Dayzer
That's mzansi for you,People will boycott anything and everything.being HIV positive is not a careerpeople need to learn to do things for themselves.stipends should ONLY go to the terminally ill not every one who is on ARV'S.iGCIWANE LABO LISILE
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Joseng
Let them go on strike for their own health, who will suffer, who are they doing the favour to???Report Abuse
miltonchino
Nobody cares if they refuse to take drugs. How can you protest by diving into a crocodile infested river. Leave them & see what happens nextReport Abuse
wabantu
I tell you if they give everyone some people will become positive just for the money. Thats our beloved mzansi for u, we never seize to amaze, why risk you own life for money?????Report Abuse
QueenB
Tis can only happen in Mzansi u knw ppl r jus so ungrateful...they shud b lukin for jobs instead oftakin tis idiotic step, ppl r so used to freebies its boring let thm kill themselves its their health afterall n money doesnt grow on trees mense, julle moet werk vir die geld nxeeeeReport Abuse
Some of the patients are victims of rape etc.
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CHATERBOX
Helang,helang bathong i didnt even know thre was STIPEND bn given to HIV positive ppl....no wonda why the Tax is so high...nxaaReport Abuse
CHATERBOX
Helang,helang bathong i didnt even know thre was STIPEND bn given to HIV positive ppl....no wonda why the Tax is so high...nxaaReport Abuse
Tom
Okay,if you are hiv positive SA gov pays you.And on the other side SA gov is fighting hvi!I they don't take ARVs they will die,right! And that will save SA gov's money! What's best?? My emphesy though is on that AIDS pays in SA.
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