Voice of America - October 16, 2006
Carole Gombakomba
Washington

Members of one of Zimbabwe's leading anti-AIDS activist groups are divided over how to express their frustration at chronic - and more recently, critical - shortages of anti-retroviral drugs, with a militant contingent proposing a "die-in" demonstration.

Benjamin Mazhindu, chairman of the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living With HIV-AIDS, or ZNNP+, said he hoped negotiations with the Ministry of Health will improve matters. But ministry's AIDS chief has been quoted as saying official programs to dispense ARVs are now running on a week-to-week basis. The Independent paper said the official warned that without replenishment, supplies of ARVs could run out.

Ministry officials say drug shortages stem from shortages of hard currency, but other reports have suggested that the closure of a plant at Varichem, the country's only domestic producer of ARVs, is the main reason for the tightening of supplies.

But Varichem Marketing Director Christopher Chitemerere said the production unit has been closed for renovations as part of preparations for a World Health Organization assessment, and that a secondary plant has maintained ARV output levels.

According to United Nations figures, some 1.7 million Zimbabweans are living with HIV-AIDS, while about 300,000 need ARV treatment. But only 40,000 can obtain it.

AIDS activist Mazhindu told reporter Carole Gombakomba that his organization is very unhappy about ARV shortages, but he does not agree with the proposal by some of his co-activists to organize a "die-in" demonstration to dramatize the situation.

Mutare-based HIV-AIDS activist Tapiwa Kujinga said that while shortages of ARVs are becoming critical, demonstrations may not help improve things.

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