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DESPITE the serious shortage of certain drugs to maintain the lives of people living with HIV and Aids in Limpopo, the provincial department of health and social development has allayed fears that the situation might be getting out of control.

The department has been experiencing shortage of ARVs in the past few weeks and this has caused panic that the situation might leave those suffering from the affliction in serious trouble.

Departmental spokesman Phuti Seloba yesterday said the drugs in short supply were Tenofovir and Abacavir.

"There is a serious shortage nationally and this is already on national tender," Seloba said.

He said Limpopo was being prioritised to receive stock, "hence the stock is being delivered frequently".

"Facilities must continually check with the provincial pharmaceutical depot to get their respective supplies," the spokesman said.

He said they were now trying to manage suppliers to ensure his department would not run out of stock.

Seloba said his department had to approach the Mpumalanga and North West provinces to borrow the drugs to ensure regular supply to their patients.

He said the Mopani district in Limpopo was in dire need of the medication.

"Mopani district is a high risk area because of the many farms in that area. We have had instances where patients would visit our clinics in the mornings to get ARVs only to be told to return in the afternoon while we were still awaiting stock. But in the end they receive their medication," he explained.

Seloba added that as a way of ensuring proper control his department had now resorted to supplying the drugs "in-house" and it was hoped this approach would lead to better ways of managing the scarce drugs.

"We have met with pharmacists and workers' unions to explain the situation and they all understood."

The spokesman said his department was cautious not to cause a situation in which people would end up not getting their regular medication and subsequently develop resistance to the drugs.

"But we are not yet in a crisis, " Seloba said.

On the other hand the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in Limpopo has accused the department of being responsible for the shortage.

Sibongile Nkosi, TAC provincial spokeswoman, said her organisation had sent a letter of complaint to the department.

"We are not happy at all. Our people end up getting half of their supplies and this puts a lot of strain on them," Nkosi said yesterday.

She said some people were contemplating to switching from ARVs to AZTs, which are easily available.

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Wed Jun 19 19:39:24 SAST 2013 ::

May 7, 2012

Mafu'theNkukhu

Health comes first!
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May 7, 2012

shrink7

how is the cartoon related to ARVs shortage.
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May 7, 2012

7000000

Yes ofcourse shortage yes!! There is no way we cannot have all this problems in Limpopo because there is clearly no Government in that part of South Africa. You will never have a smooth service delivery in an ANC lead Provincial Government without the backing of the central ANC to help you to deliver the goods. It is an open secrete that the marriage between the Limpopo ANC and the ANC in Luthuli House has irretrivable been broken down since the expulsion of the ''disguised limpopo'' premier Sello Malema. We know very well that Mathale is a shadow of Julius and ANC and Julius has since became enemies. The Limpopo ANC is in tatters with Masemola moving to the Zuma group and Motsepe and Lekganyane moving to Malema group thereby sinking with the ship. As such we cannot have a smooth Government under such circumstances, President Zuma and Comrade Radebe must just do a noble thing by disbanding the Limpopo PEC so that we can have a fresh start with the Limpopo ANC which is having a 100% support from the Central Government. Surely but slowly Mathale is going out and that is completely inevitable but we do not know the day and the date. If that was not the case the likes of Masemola will not defy the Premier and Julius who are seen as a group which want to oust Zuma leading up to Mangaung in order to bankrupt South Africa just like they did to Limpopo.
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May 7, 2012

Papage

What does the picture of two people standing and one lying on the bed has anything to do shortage of ARV's?
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May 7, 2012

Ann

cartoon doesnt make sense
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May 7, 2012

LBS

Reference to use of condoms preventing the need for ARVs in the first place?!
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May 7, 2012

CaroLinda

dey can only hav sex once he wears da condom.....not so effective mara i seriously hope ppl take dis seriously...
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May 7, 2012

Papage

No, the cartoon should be that of a very tiny person who can't walk properly, coming back from Limpopo hospital with an empty packet of ARV's, not a ready to pumb you picture
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May 7, 2012

JajazQueen

Sowetan really now???

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May 7, 2012

hulas

Malema legacy!
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