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Stopgap
measures ease ARV crisis
Elias
Mambo, The Independent (Zimbabwe)
October 11, 2013
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2013/10/11/stopgap-measures-ease-arv-crisis/
The acute shortages
of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) at public health institutions experienced
last month have slightly eased after the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) brought in drugs which will help more than half
a million people living with HIV and Aids for the next two months.
Last month Zimbabwe
ran out of the essential drugs, compromising the lives of millions
of people who were forced to buy them from private pharmacies.
However, the
UNDP prevented a crisis by supplying 5 294 packs on September 16
with sources at the national pharmacy claiming the drugs in stock
can now last for two months (October and November).
“We got
the drugs, mostly the Abacavir 300mg tablets that are now being
used as second line drug treatment for patients who have failed
to respond to the first line treatment option,” said the source.
“Abacavir
has been in short supply throughout the country with people being
asked to buy from private pharmacies.”
Zimbabwe HIV/Aids
Activist Union vice-president Stanley Takaona has called on government
to be pro-active and not to react to a crisis.
“This
has taught our government a lesson that it should be pro-active
when dealing with issues of people’s lives,” Takaona
said. “Last month’s crisis placed millions of people
on the death penalty and we hope this time around those responsible
for availing drugs will not react, but act in advance.”
The Global Fund
to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria last week released a grant
of more than US$21 million to improve access to treatment for people
living with HIV and Aids in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is
one of the beneficiaries of Global Fund and has grants supporting
HIV, tuberclosis and malaria programmes under the hospice of the
Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The Global Fund
has since 2002 approved US$628 million to fight the three diseases
in Zimbabwe which has been used to purchase ARVs, mosquito nets
and TB medication.
Global Fund
Zimbabwe co-ordinator Rangarirai Chiteure said the fund had disbursed
about US$14,7 million to procure ARVs for January to June 2014.
Chiteure also
said the Global Fund portfolio manager for Zimbabwe Perry Mwangala
would visit the country while a board member from the donor constituency
(Sweden) will also be in the country next week.
Zimbabwe switched
to Tenofovir, a new ARV regimen that has lesser side effects compared
to Stalanev, which was being prescribed to all HIV patients following
recommendations by the World Health Organisation.
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