Antiretroviral drugs, which treat patients with HIV-AIDS, remain accessible despite insecurity and forced displacement of populations in the regions of Beni, Lubero and Butembo, in the province of North Kivu. The availability of these essential medicines offers immense relief to HIV-positive people in this region of North Kivu.
Unlike other regions where stock-outs of antiretrovirals are a major problem, in Beni, Butembo and Lubero the drug supply is relatively stable. Several health centers are regularly supplied, which allows HIV-positive patients to follow their treatment without interruption. Here is the testimony of a woman, on antiretroviral treatment for 14 years:
“I had become very weak, I only weighed 25 kg. In 2010, when I found out I had HIV/AIDS, I started antiretroviral treatment. Medicines are always available. Today, I am a living example: I am strong, I can work. »
This regular access to treatment is the result of the constant efforts of health authorities, although the war has made the region difficult to access. Another patient recounts his experience:
“Today we are in 2024, almost 20 years that I have been living with HIV. I had 38 kg when I started taking ARVs, currently I have 55 kg that I had lost because of the HIV disease. Medicines are available in all the structures where I am treated.”
Consistent access to antiretroviral treatment allows many patients to regain strength and hope, although they must face another battle: stigma and social rejection.
Health