Written by Joseph Manyasa 2012-06-06 16:35:00 Read 868 Times

A patient being tested for HIV status.

“Lack of HIV kits in a number of hospitals in an area is a crisis,” says Ms. Faith Ndalila a Voluntary Counseling and Testing –VCT counselor and a community health worker at Jamia Hospital in Mumias town.

Speaking to West Fm in an exclusive interview in her office, Ms. Ndalila said the number of patients has decreased since last month due to lack of HIV testing kits at the hospital something she says if not intervened by the government might lead to high number of infections in the area.

"Normally we receive  at least 25 clients a day to be tested for HIV for the first time, but for the past two weeks we have not seen them and this is a problem because it will take ages to convince them again to come and know their status especially the first timers," she said.

She said its unfortunate that the outreaches conducted twice a week to create awareness among communities about the need to be tested is in vain this time when the kits are not in store.

She implored the Aphia+ and Tunza organizations that have been supplying them with kits to supply in large quantities to avoid such predicaments from occurring again so that they may meet the demand of people who want to know their status.

The same state of inadequate HIV kits is experienced in St. Mary's hospital Mumias where the kits have not been available for the last two weeks.

A nurse at the St. Mary’s hospital, who sought anonymity, said its absurd sitting in an office and all you tell your clients is “I am sorry I cannot help you today."

“Some people who decide once to be tested and they come and find there are no doctors or kits, they change minds and never come back again" she said.

Switch to Our Mobile Site