MOZAMBIQUE: ARV step-up planned despite AIDS impact

Mozambique has announced plans to more than double the number of people receiving free antiretrovirals (ARV) by the end of 2006, Reuters reported.

Health Minister Paulo Ivo Garrido said this would bring to 50,000 the number of people accessing the life-prolonging drugs.

He noted that AIDS presented a major development challenge, in which poor transport and a shortage of staff and hospitals were hampering the government's ARV rollout programme.

While the National Action Plan for 2005-2009 has gathered some momentum with 17,000 people currently accessing ARVs, an estimated 200,000 adults are still in need of treatment.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews,

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