Dozens of Rwandan nationals living with HIV?AIDS have missed treatment following the closure of the Uganda-Rwanda border.
Rwandan authorities closed the border with Uganda at Katuna in February and diverted the heavy trucks that were initially using the route to Mirama Hills in Ntungamo district. This was later followed by a move to restrain the Rwandans from crossing into Uganda.
Rwandan nationals often cross into Uganda to seek treatment from the border districts of Isingiro, Ntungamo, Rukiga, Rubanda, Kabale and Kisoro. A number of them were receiving treatment at Kamuganguzi, Maziba and Rubaare Health Center IVs.
By the beginning of the year, 1,710 patients were receiving Anti-retroviral treatment-ART care at Rubaare Health Centre IV. However, 62 have since missed the treatment. Efforts to follow them indicate that they are Rwandan Nationals who are currently unable to cross into Uganda for treatment.
The border was temporarily opened for about 12 days but the government of Rwanda has again closed it to the dismay of their citizens.
Dr Ambrose Okello, the in- charge of Rubaare health centre told Uganda Radio Network that other 10 patients have been on and off treatment. Dr Okello explains that missing out on treatment for HIV positive patients is dangerous since it leads to the deterioration of their health.
Beatrice Chemisto the Deputy District health officer for Ntungamo calls on those who could be having relatives who have missed treatment to devise means of helping them resume treatment.
Sonia Mwiza, whose relatives have been affected, says that her sister who used to receive drugs from Rubaare Health Centre IV had gone home at the time when the border was closed. She says that some of her friends used to sneak back to receive drugs, but her sister was arrested on two occasions attempting to leave Rwanda for treatment.
She adds that the sister had not enrolled for health insurance scheme back home.
Esperance Nyiraneza, one of the people has missed treatment says that those who are not enrolled in the health insurance back in their home country are facing difficult times and cannot even speak out about their HIV status.
Transcript “we who are HIV positive, we are now finding it hard, some of us used to get drugs from Kabale hospital and Rubaare health centre. Now it is challenging because the border is closed, were request that the border be opened so that we can continue accessing the drugs”
Kabale District Health Educator Alfred Besigensi does not give a specific number of those that have missed treatment. He, however, says that it would be better for the patients to enrol for treatment in health facilities in Rwanda.