Dear Doctor,
I have been to several HIV treatment centres and was told they no longer register new patients for ARVs because their slots were full. I tested HIV-positive five months ago and when my CD4 count was done, it was 250 cells/ml. I am not sick and have stopped attending clinics, but I am scared. What can I use to boost my CD4 count while I wait for ARVs?
Agnes

Dear Agnes,
IT is unfortunate that you have not been enrolled for antiretroviral treatment. You are eligible even though you do not feel sick at the moment and should continue to attend the clinics because HIV care and treatment is not only about getting ARVs.

By taking septrin prophylaxis, you can avoid getting serious opportunistic infections such as those that affect the brain, causing brain abscess, and pneumonia.

Make sure you always sleep under an insecticide-treated mosquito net, maintaining hygiene and eating a balanced diet. These measures may not cause your CD4 count to rise, but may help you avoid developing serious opportunistic infections and catching malaria.

Lastly, continue seeking to start taking ARVs including buying them if you can afford to sustain treatment. The price of ARVs has come down drastically, though they are still expensive for most Ugandans.

The cheapest regimen in Uganda can now be got at about sh30,000 for a month’s dose.