ETHIOPIA: Home-made HIV/AIDS drugs for Ethiopia

Ethiopia's Drug Administration and Control Authority on Tuesday said it was set to begin local manufacture of generic HIV/AIDS drugs.

"Drug access is a burning issue for Ethiopia because of the number of people living with HIV/AIDS," deputy head of the regulatory body, Mengistu Wolde-Aregay, told the UN news service PlusNews.

Ethiopia and South Africa were the only two countries on the continent selected for the scheme, and both were ready to begin within three months. Ethiopia and South Africa are facing severe HIV/AIDS pandemics.

UNAIDS estimates that 6.4 percent of Ethiopia's adults between the age of 15 and 49 are HIV-positive.

"Increasing the access to antiretroviral drugs is very important for a country like ours. It will make the drugs more affordable," Wolde-Aregay added.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Economy, Other,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]