People Living with HIV Face Increased Challenges During Pandemic
December 1 is World AIDS Day. Each year this day is designated to remember those who have been lost to AIDS, to support those who are living with HIV and to recommit to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In the midst of a global pandemic, people living with HIV in Kenya face challenges compounded in many ways by the coronavirus.
Increased costs of transportation to care, loss of income, difficulty paying for medicine and other restrictions create hurdles to care that can have long-term and live-threatening consequences. While there is no indication that people living with HIV are at greater risk from COVID-19, there are concerns that new cases of HIV may be increasing during the pandemic and current patients may drop out of care. AMPATH Plus currently provides care and treatment for more than 160,000 people living with HIV throughout western Kenya with the support of USAID/PEPFAR (The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).
For several months it appeared that Kenya would be spared the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but now cases are surging across the country and people are again becoming more apprehensive about coming to clinic or the AMPATH Centre.
“People with HIV taking antiretroviral (ART) medication must be able to access care and medication on a regular schedule,” said Professor Sylvester Kimaiyo, Chief of Party for AMPATH Plus. “The coronavirus is a serious health threat to everyone, but the increased barriers to care caused by the pandemic make the situation even more dire for people with HIV.” Missing medication or follow-up care can lead to complications such as opportunistic infections or HIV drug resistance.
AMPATH has responded to these challenges by providing several months of medicine at a time and lengthening the time between follow-up appointments. Clinics have implemented physical and scheduling changes to provide more space between patients.
Busia County Referral Hospital will be honored as a PEPFAR Hero by U.S. Ambassador Kyle McCarter during a virtual ceremony on December 2. The nomination cited the hospital for ensuring that services were not disrupted during the COVID period and for being organized, efficient and providing great leadership. “We have recognized how hard you have been working and we know it took a lot of effort for you and your team to protect HIV gains in Kenya. We are proud of your achievement, and we are sure there are more to come in the coming years,” said Tamu Daniel, DrPH, MPH, PEPFAR Country Coordinator – Kenya.
Food insecurity means that some patients experience side effects from taking their medication on an empty stomach. AMPATH nurses, social workers and clinical officers are working to identify patients who are most at risk right now to provide direct food and financial support.
Over the past few weeks both the number of COVID cases per day and overall positivity rate has increased across the country. As of Monday, November 30, Kenya has confirmed 83,618 cases of the coronavirus and 1,469 people have died as a result of the virus.
Many healthcare workers have tested positive for the coronavirus and fear and anxiety is high among those working in the hospitals and clinics. The AMPATH partnership is also mourning the loss of colleagues.
Dr. Ashraf Emarah, a plastic surgeon, succumbed to COVID-19 earlier this month. “Dr. Ashraf was a talented surgeon and an important member of our team at MTRH,” said Dr. Adrian Gardner, executive director of the AMPATH Consortium. “His loss is felt deeply by everyone in our partnership, the many students he mentored and all of the patients and families he helped. Our condolences to his family.”
Moi University is also mourning the loss of faculty member Mrs. Mary Sala. “Our sympathies are also extended to Mrs. Sala’s colleagues in the Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences and to her family members who are also part of our AMPATH family,” added Dr. Gardner.