The Ministry of Health and Wellness of Botswana Warns People to Continue ARV Drug Intake

The Ministry of Health and Wellness of Botswana warns people to continue ARV drug intake even if the patients believe in divine healing of HIV. The number of HIV-positive people who stop taking taking antiretroviral medicines grows because they believe the disease was caused by demons. Religious patients stop taking medicines after repeating HV-test, which results as negative if the viral load is suppressed and undetectable.

“Some HIV positive people can actually have a negative HIV rapid test result after being on Antiretroviral Therapy for a number of years, not meaning that they are cured from HIV. The tests commonly used to diagnose HIV detect the antibodies produced by the body as a reaction to the presence of the virus. Hence the test may be negative, but the person can still transmit the infection and if the person stops treatment for some time, the amount of viruses will rise again to detectable levels, which will lead to the deterioration of his/her health.” - said Health permanent secretary, Shenaaz El-Halabi to Mmeg online.