A recent publication by the World Health Organisation has highlighted a worrying trend in resistance to the HIV drug, dolutegravir, which has been a first-line regimen for adults and adolescents.
The report reveals a rise in resistance levels, varying from 3.9 to 8.6 per cent, and soaring to 19.6 per cent among individuals who transitioned to dolutegravir-based ART with high viral loads.
Dr Meg Doherty, the director of WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, stressed the urgency for enhanced vigilance and improved HIV care delivery.
“Standardised surveillance of HIV drug resistance is vital for preventing, monitoring and addressing these challenges,” Dr Doherty said.
Since 2018, WHO has advocated for dolutegravir as the preferred HIV treatment, citing its efficacy and tolerability compared to alternative medications.
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The latest report also discusses instances of resistance to integrase-strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) following exposure to cabotegravir (CAB-LA), highlighting the importance of prompt HIV detection.
According to the National Syndemic Disease Control Council, Kenya had 1,377,784 individuals living with HIV in 2023, with a significant concentrations in ten counties; Kisumu (128,091), Nairobi (124,609), Homa Bay (120,600), Siaya (96,297), Migori (76,053), Nakuru (57,635), Mombasa (50,656), Kakamega (48,733), Kiambu (45,917) and Kisii (42,210).
The latest WHO report credits the decline in Aids-related deaths to increased availability and accessibility of antiretroviral treatment between 2013 and 2022.
It, however, underscores the need for robust data reporting systems to monitor and address HIV drug resistance effectively.
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