KZN Health to phase in new HIV drug to children
Plans are in place to transition eligible children living with HIV to a new antiretroviral drug for neonates in KwaZulu-Natal.
That's according to the Department of Health in KZN, which says it will soon start using Dolutegravir, also known as DTG.
It's a 10-milligram drug that's been registered with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.
The ARV is also recommended by National Health as the standard first line of treatment for children.
In KZN, children are among the population group which is lagging behind in knowing their HIV status.
Delivering her budget vote on Wednesday, MEC Nomagugu Simelane says the main challenge is that children are reliant on their parents or guardians to take them to the clinic for treatment and to inform them about their status.
"This antiretroviral drug is dissolvable and can now be given to children around 4 weeks and less than 10 years of age with a weight band between 3 -20kg. Dolutegravir (DTG) has a high genetic barrier to resistance and is also more palatable, with a strawberry cream taste.
The drug can also be dissolved in water, juice, porridge, and yogurt and will go a long way towards achieving viral suppression in this sub-population of children. From this intervention, we expect the children's viral load to be better managed."
