Panafrican News Agency - November 2, 2001
"The ministry of Health, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation and the Health ministry in Thailand, has initiated plans for the manufacturing of the drug," Dr Anane said.
The drug has the capability to prolong the life of an infected person for 20 more years.
Dr Anane said officials from Thailand have already been in the country to assess the capability of some manufacturing companies and concluded that Ghana has the capacity to produce the drug.
He said the ministry was corresponding with Thai officials for the green light for production to start, adding that through negotiations with the World Bank the drug, which cost 700 dollars, has been reduced to 29.5 dollars.
"This is still too high and not many Ghanaians can afford it. We believe that if we start the production, it would further reduce the cost of the drug," Dr Anane explained.
He also noted a reduction in the HIV prevalence rate from 4.6 to 3.6 per cent in the year 2000.
He said the anti HIV/AIDS programme has seriously been revised, adding that the ministry has procured one million dollars from the World Bank for the purchase of anti retroviral drugs. The procurement programme, he said, is on course.
Ghana has a cumulative HIV/AIDS figure of more than 45,000.
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