The National Aids Council says Zimbabweans should adhere to their HIV/
AIDS anti-retroviral treatment regime to avoid future complications.
National AIDS Council Director of Communications, Madeline Dube, told VOA Studio 7 some people are prematurely stopping treatment regimes after feeling better or upon receiving alleged spiritual healing from religious leaders.
"When we engaged with some people living with HIV/AIDS at the National AIDS Day commemoration ceremony held in December in Victoria Falls last year, we learnt that some patients were stopping treatment prematurely after being told by spiritual and traditional healers that they had been healed," said Dube.
She said it is saddening that they have seen avoidable fatalities as a result of people not adhering to their treatment.
Zimbabwe currently has nearly half a million people on anti-retrovial treatment. Dube said they are currently embarking on a extensive awareness programme to educate the public on the need to adhere to treatment.
She cautioned those that were receiving spiritual word of healing from their spiritual or traditional healers to revert back to their doctors or medical prationers before abandoning treatment to avoid complications that can include resistance to particular regiments.
"Those that may think they have received spiritual healing from HIV/AIDS should go back to their medical doctors and get professional reviews as well as continue their medication," she said.
