Centre runs out of drugs

By MAZIE SELMBIA and GLORIA BAUAI
WAU Health Centre has no Antiretroviral (ART) drugs for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients, says health extension officer in charge Olivia Kola.
She said Angau ART clinic stopped supplying since January following allegations of reselling of drugs and testing kits by the prescriber.
Kola said patients reported the community health worker for allegedly charging for ART and HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) tests which were supposed to be free.
She said they had since arranged with the ART prescriber at Bulolo Rural Hospital to help their patients while awaiting Wau to resolve their issue.
The National learnt that at least six HIV survivors were from the Haus Pikinini Orphanage in Wau and had been affected as a result of this.
Owner Donna Harvey-Hall said the oldest was a 14-year-old girl who was registered at the Wau Health Centre seven years ago.
“We were always given a three monthly supply for her which was cut to 30-day supply until recently I was told there was no more for her,” she said.
Harvey-Hall said they had been diligent with their medication and were only concerned that missing supply and restarting could build up ART resistance.
Harvey-Hall said the children were tested on arrival and most, like this 14-year-old, were infected at birth.
She said the orphanage had a good relationship with the prescriber for years, ensuring their children were on track with medication.
Wau Health Centre did not confirm total registered cases but according to Harvey-Hall, there were more than 200 active cases in Wau and only 65 were receiving regular treatment for their own reasons.
Angau ART Clinic declined to comment as the matter had already been reported to the Morobe Health Authority.
Chief executive officer Dr Kipas Binga, however, said he was only notified of this by the board on Friday (March 1) after the social media posts.
“And I was told by the ART officer that they stopped supply into Wau because of this particular officer,” he said.
“We have our disciplinary processes that follow public service general orders.
“This is a terminable offence if proven beyond doubt; there is no space for such behaviour in this organisation.”
Binga explained for ART, one needed to go through a certain training to prescribe and give this drug, and monitor the side effects and everything else.
“But definitely by Monday or Tuesday, we should get supply in, especially to that orphanage,” he said.
In light of this situation, Kola said they were also considering training more health workers to treat HIV and STI patients at Wau Health Centre.
Wau Health Centre building, housing HIV AIDS along with the TB Dots clinics, was condemned and closed indefinitely since 2021.
Kola said TB and HIV Aids clinics were still available today, but at a reduced service.