ZAMBIA: AIDS drug shortage creates concern

AIDS activists are concerned that Zambia's antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programme could be derailed by a lack of adequate planning.

Health Minister Brian Chituwo recently announced in parliament that supplies of Triomune-30, a fixed-dose combination of Nevirapine, Lamivudine and Stavudine, had run out.

Winston Zulu, coordinator of the AIDS NGO, Kara Trust, commented: "I am very scared about the provision of ARVs in Zambia because it is not being done well. As someone who has been taking ARVs for years, I know that bad treatment is worse than no treatment."

But department of health spokesman Victor Mukonka told the UN news service PlusNews, there was "no reason to panic or get alarmed ... there will be no treatment interruptions - this is only one drug out of 16 formulations that are available in the country."

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

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