By Mercy Matonga:
A report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (UNaids) indicates that lack of coordination among countries—especially in Africa—regarding the administration of life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) drugs is disrupting access to treatment for people who travel across borders.
This was said by UN migration officer Grevasio Chamatambe during a breakfast meeting organised by UNaids to launch strategies aimed at scaling up the fight against Aids from 2025 to 2030.
He said the lack of collaboration among Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries regarding antiretroviral therapy (ART) and drug policies makes it difficult for some individuals to continue receiving support when they travel to other countries.
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“We have a number of challenges which include incompatibility of ART regimens across countries and no existing national protocol or system to track ART clients across borders. Lack of regional coordination also limits ART continuity across Sadc,” Chamatambe said.
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He further said there was a need to advocate for regional frameworks to secure access to HIV treatment and prevention for migrants and convene relevant embassies and high commissions present in Malawi to devise solutions.
In her remarks, Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the ministry was encouraging people to collect enough medication when planning to travel to other countries.
“We, as a ministry, are continuing with the efforts of scaling up, especially among the youths, who most of the times find it difficult to visit health facilities,” Chiponda said.
She further said to support those who travel abroad, the ministry would be encouraging those traveling to get refills that could last for a year or six months.
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In her remarks, UN Resident Coordinator Rebecca Adda Dontoh said they would continue supporting countries in scaling up HIV prevention.
“We, as development partners, continue working with all stakeholders in the fight against HIV infection prevention. With the new vaccination. We will continue to advocate for the vaccine to be affordable for everyone including African nationals,” Dontoh said.
