SA Government Policy Changes announced

Partners:

Written by LoV Team

Tuesday, 01 December 2009 14:15

South African President Jacob Zuma, in his World Aids day speech, announced
the following policy changes from the government:

. All children under one year of age will get treatment if they test
positive. Initiating treatment will therefore not be determined by the level
of CD cells.

. All patients with both TB and HIV will get treatment with
anti-retrovirals if their CD4 count is 350 or less. At present treatment is
available when the CD4 count is less than 200. TB and HIV/Aids will now be
treated under one roof.

. All pregnant HIV positive women with a CD4 count of 350 or with
symptoms regardless of CD4 count will have access to treatment. At present
HIV positive pregnant women are eligible for treatment if their CD4 count is
less than 200.

. All other pregnant women not falling into this category, but who
are HIV positive, will be put on treatment at fourteen weeks of pregnancy to
protect the baby. In the past this was only started during the last term of
pregnancy.

We rejoice at this news and continue to pray that the doors would open for
us to become an ARV distribution site.