ZAMBIA: Emergency procurement of ARVs to prevent shortages

Zambia's health ministry has spent US $253,000 to urgently purchase anti-AIDS drugs in response to shortages facing the national treatment plan.

In an interview with Zambia's local newspaper, The Post, health spokesman Dr Victor Mukonka said the ministry was still on target to provide 100,000 people with antiretrovirals (ARVs) by 2005.

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.

According to Mukonka, the distribution of the ARVs would be staggered so as to prevent any future shortages.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews,

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