Universal access and human rights still a challenge

Submitted by banza about 3 months ago

In the HIV/AIDS and TB services provided by the Zambian Government and other cooperating partners, there is a need to do more in making sure that the people are well-informed and understand human rights issues.

People should be made to fully understand that by virtue of being human, everyone has the right to good health.

The health worker said that it is the duty of the government to make sure citizens have better medical health services across the board regardless the geographical location.

She pointed out that although the government has declared free HIV/AIDS/TB services in all public health settings, there are still costs that are attached to those patients who may be experiencing TB symptoms. She said the clinic is currently charging K20, 000 for X-ray for those patients who may be co-infected with TB/HIV or those with TB only and that if the patient is not in a position to pay the amount they are turned away even in situations when a patient with HIV is seriously ill and is presenting TB symptoms.

The health worker said currently, they were attending to an average of 170 ART clients everyday, with an exception of an average of 20 new ART enrolments that are done on a daily basis, she said currently they don't receive any payments after a part time work at the ART clinic, with the high infection rates the clinic is under-staffed and that most of them are working on a part time basis including the person in charge.

She felt inadequate health personnel at the clinic contributed to long queues and missed pharmacy and clinical appointments by some clients, as some of them are finding it very difficult to queue at the clinic.

In complementing governments efforts and by ensuring that the right to health is realized the clinic in partnership with people living with HIV (PLHIV) support group members at the clinic are doing HIV/TB community sensitization including HIV voluntary counseling and testing activities which is done door to door, these activities are done quarterly, she said these activities have helped the community in knowing that these health services are available for the community to access, this has resulted in an expanded ART enrolment program and less stigma levels in the community as many people are being educated on the issues of HIV/TB.

She pointed out that poor adherence to treatment for people living with HIV still remains one of the major challenges in the fight against HIV/TB and that clients that miss both clinical and pharmacy appointments are not turned away once they come to the clinic (as it is the case with other government clinics).

She said a client is put on an intensive adherence program so that they properly understand the importance of adhering to treatment and that, as people living with HIV, they have the right to treatment regardless of the situation they have found themselves in.

She said all these challenges being faced in the health service delivery system were undermining the declaration of commitment in addressing HIV/AIDS and TB made by world leaders including the Zambian government.

Compiled by: Dennis Chibuye

Keywords: community voice HIV/AIDS Human rights TB universal access World AIDS Day 2009 Zambia

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