Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
 |
Voice of America - September 22, 2008
Carole Gombakomba
Washington
Zimbabwe's National Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS has asked the central bank and government to provide its 120,000 members with food under the government's so-called Basic Commodity Supply Side Intervention program, known as Bacossi.
The Ministry of Health, meanwhile, said it is trying to increase distribution of life-prolonging antiretroviral drugs.
Data compiled by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition showed some 104,000 people on the ARV regimen in May, an increase of 58,000 from 2007 levels. The figure represents about 40% of those believed to be in need of the drugs.
Many in the HIV/AIDS community in Zimbabwe hope the recently-signed agreement for power-sharing will result in increased funding for the fight against the pandemic.
Movement for Democratic Change founder Morgan Tsvangirai said in signing the deal on Sept. 15 that "we need medication and doctors back in our hospitals."
Benjamin Mazhindu, chairman of the National Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, told reporter Carole Gombakomba that while drugs are important, his group's first priority now is food to sustain those living with the disease.
080922
VA080909
Copyright © 2008 - Voice of America. You are welcome to use any material that is published by voanews.com, or you may link to any of the web pages that Voice of America has published on the internet. There is no need to request further permission. Should you wish to establish a link to any VOA web pages, please send your request to pubaff@ibb.gov. We would appreciate that credit for any use of VOA material be given to voanews.com, Voice of America, or VOA, and we ask that you not abridge or edit any VOA material which you may use.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you.
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 not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. This article first appeared in 2008. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2008. 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. .