Go for prayers but stick to ARVs, MoH warns HIV patients

The Ministry of Health has warned against misleading claims of faith healing of  HIV by some churches in the country.

The ministry through the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council has cautioned people living with HIV in the country against abandoning their treatment programmes.

This comes as some churches have been termed notorious for announcing healing miracles to the congregants, among them healing those with HIV.

But the Council has come out to strongly oppose the information and warned that abandoning Anti-retroviral therapy has dire consequences on the patients.

“The disruption of HIV treatment has dire consequences including damage to body organs that could remain irreversible,” the statement reads in part.

The NSDCC has acknowledged that even though seeking prayers is useful for the spiritual, psychological and social well-being of most believers, all people living with HIV need to adhere to their Anti-retroviral therapy.

“Unverified claims of faith healing for HIV have previously resulted in unnecessary loss of life. To date we have no proven HIV cure that can be scaled up,” it said.

“We urge members of the faith communities who are our key stakeholders to work closely with believers and other partners to eradicate HIV-related stigma and discrimination that continue to negate the gains made in HIV response."

The Council has further noted that while ART is not a cure, it can reduce the amount of the virus in the blood to undetectable levels and stop the virus from replicating preventing HIV from progressing to AIDS.

All citizens have been encouraged to be tested for HIV and know their status with those newly diagnosed enrolled in treatment.

The HIV treatment programme in Kenya is successful with 86 per cent of those on treatment having achieved viral suppression by the end 2021.