Tollfree number for HIV/Aids availed

24 Apr, 2022 - 00:04 0 Views
Tollfree number for HIV/Aids availed Dr Nkazimulo Tshuma

The Sunday News

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
MPILO Central Hospital Centre of Excellence has launched a toll-free number to cater for HIV and Aids related issues and emergencies in a bid to ensure that people get round the clock assistance.

The toll-free number 08080528 is accessible to Econet Mobile number users while a WhatsApp number 0780049436 has been set up for all other networks and those abroad to enable people to send any enquiries and get responses via the same platforms.

Sister-in-charge for the Mpilo Centre of Excellence Brian Khumalo explained how the toll free number works and the rationale behind it.

“There are no charges for making the call, this was done in a bid to ensure that clients and any people seeking services from the clinic and have enquiries on issues pertaining to HIV management can contact us. Some of the issues include counselling, testing, medication and side effects. If they are not able to come to the clinic, they make use of that toll free number and they are assisted.

They call, and put in the enquiry, there is a linkage assistant, who is the one who mans the phone around the clock and if there are any questions that will have been asked and they need reference to other people, he can refer that client,” said Sister Khumalo.

Clients, he said, fail to come to the clinic physically, sometimes, for various reasons such as transport costs, others have pressing work commitments and with the Covid-19 outbreak, that became one of the major reasons why people could not come to the clinic as there were travel restrictions.

Dr Nkazimulo Tshuma, the medical director at the centre said the toll-free number has been widely accepted by clients.

Antiretrovirals

“The response has been good; most clients are now contacting us via the phone. Previously our clients used to get side effects and they would stop taking their Antiretrovirals on their own and wait for review dates which would be two months later and this is not what we wanted.

Some would be forced to come in much earlier for something which is minor. So, through this toll-free number and WhatsApp we are able to address such issues,” she said. — @NyembeziMu

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