CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Cost-sharing AIDS drug programme launched

The Central African Republic (CAR) is providing low cost anti-AIDS drugs over the next five years in an effort to improve the life expectancy of HIV-positive people and encourage voluntary HIV screening as a preventive strategy.

Health Minister Nestor-Mamadou Nali said during the launch of the treatment programme earlier this week that poor people would receive antiretrovirals free of charge, while low-income earners were expected to pay US $4 a month.

"This is keeping in line with the 'Bamako' [African healthcare] Initiative, which stresses community participation and low cost-sharing," Nali told the UN news service PlusNews.

The treatment programme has been made possible by a $25 million Global AIDS Fund grant, approved in April.

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

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