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A Zambian government antiretroviral
(ARV) drug rationing system has alarmed HIV-infected residents who fear
treatment interruptions. Although First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba Sata
acknowledged an ARV shortage in Zambia, Dr. Kamoto Mbewe, spokesperson for the
Zambian Ministry of Health, asserted that Matero and Chingwere clinics in
Lusaka did have a one-month supply of Atripla, the single-dose ARV, and would
receive another shipment “soon.”
Mbewe urged HIV-infected people not
to panic, as existing ARV supplies were sufficient to last until expected
shipments arrived in August and September. Pending shipments would include
55,260 bottles of Abacavir and 491,000 bottles of Truvada. Since January, the
Zambian government has spent more than $16 million on “essential drugs,”
including ARVs. Zambian Ministry of Health plans called for all HIV-infected
Zambians to transition eventually to the single-dose Atripla regimen.
Lloyd Nkumbula Bwalya, district
coordinator for the Network of Zambian People Living with HIV/AIDS, feared that
difficulties imposed by the rationing system—daily queuing for drugs and delays
in service—would result in HIV patients missing scheduled ARV doses. Zambia’s
Minister of Health affirmed in a mid-year media briefing that maintaining an
uninterrupted ARV supply for every HIV-infected Zambian was a priority.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus.
To learn more about The Friends of
AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
