Over 200k HIV+ KZN residents ‘defaulting’
More than 200,000 people living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal are said to be defaulting on their anti-retroviral treatment.
The Department of Health in KZN says it wants to reduce this number, and has urged people to take their medication.
The provincial health department says it plans to trace over 117,000 defaulters by the end of the year.
It's advised people who experience side effects from treatment, such as fatigue, to contact their local clinic for help.
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Around 1.5 million people are on ARV treatment in the province.
KZN is part of the newly-launched Close the Gap campaign, aimed at reaching 1.1 million people across the country, who know their status but aren't on treatment.
In a statement, the department has warned that stopping treatment can lead to serious health risks and drug resistance.
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