Police received a request for the medication from the miners.Spokesperson of the Health Department Foster Mohale says the department has to first verify that the ARVs are sent to correctly diagnosed patients because of the side effects that could be suffered by those who take unprescribed medication.

“Motsoaledi was trying to clarify the call made by sectors in the society with regards to the miners who are currently in the shaft at Stilfontein, where there were calls that lets give those medical care especially with regards to HIV treatment, ARVs. He was trying to clarify that we don’t just Willy Nilly give out ARVs because they are part of chronic medication, we don’t give such meds if we don’t know the diagnosis of that person. What if that medication will make the situation worse. We need to know the current medical status of that person before we could give out the medication.”

The unlicensed miners have been stuck underground for days, with various ministers visiting the site, where community members have been trying to rescue the miners.

--SABC--