A Facebook post claiming that the Kenyan government is unable to provide Antiretroviral drugs to people living with HIV/Aids is Plausible
Davine Otieno
Kenya is currently is experiencing an acute shortage of (ARV) drugs which has now hit health facilities, greatly affecting persons living with HIV/Aids.
Kenya, which has a population of 1.5 people million living with HIV, receives HIV medical supplies mainly from the government, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the global fund.
While Kenya received a consignment of ARV’s worth Ksh. 2.1 billion from USAID on the January 18, 2021, a tax bill dispute between her and USAID has created stalemate for the drugs to be cleared for collection.
The government handed a Ksh. 90 million tax bill to the American firm Chemonics, which had imported the drugs on behalf of USAID, Treasury CS Ukur Yatani has since approved a tax waiver of Ksh. 45.8 million which enabled the release of ARV’s worth Ksh. 1.1 billion.
Kenya argues the tax bill was issued because USAID flouted protocols on HIV and tuberculosis drug donations, however, cargo worth 1 billion still remain stuck at the port of Mombasa as the government and USAID continue to grapple on whom should pay the taxes.
People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) continue live in fear as health facilities continue to run short of ARV supplies.
According to a report filed by Citizen TV on 1st April, ARV doses are now being rationed as PLWHA are currently receiving medication for one month dosage for 3 months.
A section Members of Parliament form Nyanza including Gladys Wanga, James Nyikal, Rosa Buyu and Tom Odede have since appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene over the tax row standoff.
PLWHA in Kisumu on 20 April held a peaceful protest concerning the shortage of ARV’s on the grounds that the rationing on the little which was available was bound to endanger their health.
The US embassy has since opined its consideration dispatch the ARV consignment which remains stuck in Mombasa to another country.
Sky FM has looked into the Facebook post claiming that Kenya cannot provide enough ARV’s to HIV patients and finds it to be plausible.
