Woman robbed of her ARV meds

Dina Hlongwane, 33, told Rekord North she was returning from George Mukhari Hospital when the incident happened last week Thursday.

She had gone to collect the ARVs when three men, who she suspected of being nyaope addicts, accosted and threatened her. They then allegedly searched her bag and took her ARVs.

“They did not take my cellphone, money and other personal belongings, they took only the ARVs,” said Hlongwane.

She said nyaope addicts her community were targeting HIV/AIDS patients getting their ARV medication from hospitals and accused police of not taking this kind of crime seriously.

“I went to the police after being robbed. They said I must make an affidavit and go back to the hospital to collect some more ARVs.”

According to her, police did not open a case.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mathews Nkoadi said he failed to understand why a robbery docket was not opened.

“We have had several cases before where people reported their ARVs stolen. We take each case seriously. Some of the reported cases are still being investigated,” he said.

“We urge all the other people who have been robbed of their ARVs to come to the police to lay charges. Some of the people were robbed at their homes and others robbed on their way from clinics and hospitals,” he added.

Nkoadi said some people did not bother to lay charges.

“It is important to open cases because this is pure robbery and the police can go to the scene and investigate.”

HIV/AIDS patients are said to be targeted by nyaope users as the anti-retroviral treatment is believed to be one of the core ingredients contained in the relatively cheap drug cocktail –  along with include heroin, detergent powder and rat poison.

– Caxton News Service