A section of expired ARVs dispensed to people living with HIV. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]
People living with HIV are demanding answers over how expired antiretroviral (ARV) medicines got to be distributed in public hospitals.
Through their network, National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/Aids in Kenya (NEPHAK), they are also questioning why facilities have continued to dispense the drugs to users. The drugs, it says, should have been mopped up, and not dispensed to users.
Their concerns follow reports that expired ARVs are being dispensed to patients across the country, including newborns.
HIV advocates warn that the practice could increase the risk of new infections, more so among newborn, Aids-related death and drag efforts of eliminating new HIV infections.
