AEGiS-NV: Septrin is effective spread the news The New Vision (Uganda)Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Click here to return to The New Vision main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


Septrin is effective spread the news

New Vision (Kampala) - December 9, 2005

SEPTRIUN is a wonder drug which, when taken daily, gives tremendous relief to and prolongs the life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). It prevents common HIV-related illnesses of the chest, diarrhoea, middle ear infection, urinary tract infection, gonorrhoea and malaria. It also reduces the risk of pneumonia and is thought to be responsible for the now less common Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), an opportunistic infection that used to be the leading cause of death for PLWHA.

The drug is readily available and affordable. A 960mg septrin tablet costs sh100 in many drug shops, costing sh3,000 per month.

The cheapest you can get generic ARVs is sh28,000 per month. But if they are brand names, the cost increases to sh110,000 and if it is a syrup for children, you need about sh150,000 a month. This is very expensive for many poor Ugandans.

The Ministry of Health has made it a policy to treat all PLWHA with septrin for prevention and protective purposes. Health administrators should therefore teach people about septrin and make sure this drug is easily available in all areas.

Political, religious and social leaders can help to propagate this information using local radios, political platforms, religious fora and village councils.

The Ministry of Health should organise continuous refresher courses to all health workers in the field of HIV/AIDS management. This is a heavily researched area and new information keeps coming up especially about cheaper means of managing the disease.

For people who cannot afford and don't have access to free ARVs, septrin remains a solution until they are able to access free ARVs. However, septrin should not be used as an alternative to ARVs whenever one can afford.


051209
NV051222

Copyright © 2005 - The New Vision. All articles are republished on AEGIS by permission. Material may not be redistributed, posted to any other location, published or used for broadcast without written authorization from Managing Director/Editor-in-chief, The New Vision, P.O. Box 9815, Kampala - Uganda, Tel/fax: 256-41-235221, E-mail: wpike@newvision.co.ug.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2005. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .