More than a thousand residents in Bulawayo are on the Anti Retro- Viral waiting list in the second largest city.According to council statistics a total of 11 667 as of May were receiving the drugs from the city councils clinics in the city.
ARVs are disbursed at 11 council clinics in Bulawayo with Nketa Clinic being the only new Start Centre.
According to the latest council minutes, Bulawayo recorded an increase of people enrolled onto the ART programme despite the huge waiting list.
In the month of May 2010 there had been a 7.1 percent increase of people enrolled. Luveve Clinic enrolled 77 children. Four other clinics were being prepared as startup centres in an effort to reduce the waiting list of 1 000 patients to date, read a report prepared by the Director of Health Services, Zanele Hwalima.
Nketa Clinic, a start up centre, has the highest number of people on the ART programme with 2 885 people, followed by Nkulumane Clinic with 1 388. Pelandaba Clinic has 1 201 people on ARVs while Luveve Clinic has 1 138 people.
A total of 1 035 people are on the ART programme at Magwegwe Clinic with Pumula Clinic having 792people, Emakhandeni Clinic 742 and Mzilikazi Clinic 644. Entumbabe Clinic has the least number of people on the ART programme with 488.
Dr Hwalima said the HIV/AIDS related cumulative deaths recorded in Bulawayo stood at 1 163.
Post published in: Analysis