Thousands of Mozambicans have stopped taking HIV medications.
He attributed the high rate of defaulters to HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
In the first three months of this year, nearly 14,000 HIV patients in Mozambique's central province of Zambézia reportedly stopped taking antiretroviral medication.
According to Dr. Cheinaze Verssimo, the provincial leader of the HIV Program in the region, male patients make up the majority of individuals who have stopped taking the drugs.
He attributed the high rate of defaulters to HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
In Zambézia province, almost 300,000 HIV patients receive antiretroviral therapy.
"Right now, our issue is dealing with patients that drop out." If a person refuses treatment, the virus grows stronger, the individual becomes ill, and in certain circumstances, death results," Dr. Verssimo explained.
He stated that health officials will provide medicines to individuals in their homes who are unable to visit health facilities due to illness or fear of stigma.
