HEALTH Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has bemoaned the fact that some people living with HIV and Aids abandon their ARV treatment and opt for traditional and religious methods.
"This is a great problem to the nation because when those people return to health institutions, they have developed resistance and have to be put on more expensive ARV treatment," Motsoaledi said.
He was speaking to Sowetan after he officially opened a clinic at Mashishimale village outside Phalaborwa on Saturday.
"We are not against traditional methods or religion, but it is very unfortunate that people abandon ARVs. It puts a greater burden on the whole health system when people return for treatment.
"There is nothing wrong with praying and people have different beliefs. But it has been scientifically proven that ARVs are much better at slowing the development of the HI virus," Motsoaledi said.
Adressing the crowd at the opening of the clinic, Motsoaledi said people should utilise the institution for their benefit and "no one should be denied treatment".
He encouraged people to get tested for HIV-Aids, especially men. Statistics show that a lower number of men were getting tested for the virus, he said. He also encouraged women to report any form of abuse, especially rape. This helps to detect the presence of the HI virus at an early stage.
Anna Sono, mayor of BaPhalaborwa municipality, said the new clinic would help ease the pressure at the mobile clinics in the area, which has a population of 138 000.
"There was a challenge of overcrowding and this clinic will partly solve the problem as it is going to operate 24 hours a day," Sono said.
She said there was a high rate of chronic diseases and child mortality in the area.
The opening was accompanied by a football game involving the Bafana Bafana Class of 1996. Bafana Bafana won all their games against the provincial health department, the Limpopo media team and the Phalaborwa Mining Company.
Earnest plea to all ARV users
HEALTH Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has bemoaned the fact that some people living with HIV and Aids abandon their ARV treatment and opt for traditional and religious methods.
"This is a great problem to the nation because when those people return to health institutions, they have developed resistance and have to be put on more expensive ARV treatment," Motsoaledi said.
He was speaking to Sowetan after he officially opened a clinic at Mashishimale village outside Phalaborwa on Saturday.
"We are not against traditional methods or religion, but it is very unfortunate that people abandon ARVs. It puts a greater burden on the whole health system when people return for treatment.
"There is nothing wrong with praying and people have different beliefs. But it has been scientifically proven that ARVs are much better at slowing the development of the HI virus," Motsoaledi said.
Adressing the crowd at the opening of the clinic, Motsoaledi said people should utilise the institution for their benefit and "no one should be denied treatment".
He encouraged people to get tested for HIV-Aids, especially men. Statistics show that a lower number of men were getting tested for the virus, he said. He also encouraged women to report any form of abuse, especially rape. This helps to detect the presence of the HI virus at an early stage.
Anna Sono, mayor of BaPhalaborwa municipality, said the new clinic would help ease the pressure at the mobile clinics in the area, which has a population of 138 000.
"There was a challenge of overcrowding and this clinic will partly solve the problem as it is going to operate 24 hours a day," Sono said.
She said there was a high rate of chronic diseases and child mortality in the area.
The opening was accompanied by a football game involving the Bafana Bafana Class of 1996. Bafana Bafana won all their games against the provincial health department, the Limpopo media team and the Phalaborwa Mining Company.
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