18 and Zewditu Memorial II,
8 hospitals indicated that initiation of HAART decreases the incidence of anemia. On the contrary, there is evidence that showed multiple drugs used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS results in side-effects including anemia. For instance, drugs such as AZT, cotrimoxazole, amphotericin, interferon, dapsone, and hydroxyurea-based drugs can cause anemia.
Our country, Ethiopia is one of the Sub-Saharan Africa countries that are severely affected by HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that more than 610,335 people were living with HIV in 2018.
20 The prevalence of anemia among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia ranged from 21% to 70%. A study at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia indicated that more than one-third (34.6%) of people living with HIV developed anemia. A similar study at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia indicated that the prevalence of anemia was 1.7% among children who had ART follow-up.
By Michael Olugbode
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has continued to help the Government of Nigeria to accelerate efforts toward HIV/AIDS epidemic control despite the COVID-19 pandemic, through U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
A scientific article recently released titled: Rapid Scale-up of an Antiretroviral Therapy Program Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic- Nine States, Nigeria, March 31, 2019- September 30, 2020, showed that progress was made in the number of those who made themselves available for HIV treatment despite the prevalence of COVID-19.
Also in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published by the Atlanta-based CDC Headquarters, details were shown of how CDC Nigeria established an Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Surge program, which accelerated progress toward HIV epidemic control in nine Nigerian states during 18 months.
Views: Visits 13 Religious leaders have been told not to discourage their members, who are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) from taking Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), in the hope that doing so will compromise their faith. This was the admonition of participants at the ongoing five-day workshop in Lagos organised by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN). They noted that poor adherence to treatment by HIV patients has the potential to negatively impact outcome of treatment efforts. West Africa Regional Co-ordinator, World Council of Churches, Ayoko Bahun-Wilson, who spoke at the event, tagged “Consultation for Religious Leaders on HIV Treatment Adherence,” said the body had shown leadership traits by creating safe spaces for its communities to deepen their knowledge and engender reflections on ART.
The Bia West District Assembly in the Western North Region has recorded a total of 33 new HIV/AIDS cases in the first quarter of 2021.
Of the figures, 11 are males and 22 females.
This brings to a total of 819 positive HIV/AIDS cases made up of 598 females and 221 males recorded in the District as at the end of March this year.
This was made known at the end of the first quarter stakeholders meeting and review of the District HIV/AIDS response activities.
Mr Obed Anhwere, Bio-statistician at Essam Government Hospital, who is in charge of Anti-Retroviral Therapy, (ART) appealed to persons diagnosed to be HIV positive to seek early treatment by visiting the unit for anti-retroviral drugs since that was the only way to go.