antiretrovirals

ARV Donor Money Running Out, Says MSF
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned that donors are disengaging from the fight against HIV/AIDS leaving behind millions who are still in dire need of lifesaving treatment in South Africa and other hard-hit Sub-Saharan African countries.

The organisation, which supports the care and treatment of more than 160 000 people in 27 countries, states that continued donor support will enable people living with HIV/AIDS to continue receiving treatment, warning that a reversal will lead to excessive loss of life.

In its report entitled ‘No time to Quit MSF's Analysis from Eight Countries’, reveals that the donor disengagement was starting to become visible in the field and the level of HIV care was beginning to deteriorate.

To read the article titled, “ARV donor money running dry,” click here.

Source:

All Africa

Article link:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201005270323.html
Motsoaledi Calls for Cheap ARVs
- antiretrovirals
- hiv/aids
Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has stated he will not bow to pharmaceutical companies who are crying foul about government’s intentions to buy cheaper anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs).

Motsoaledi, who delivered his budget vote in Parliament, says despite South Africa being the biggest consumer of ARVs in the world, government continues to pay the highest price for the life saving drugs.

“Lets put it in this house once and for all - there is no choice. We must purchase ARVs at the lowest possible cost from whatever source, whether inside or outside the country,” explains Motsoaledi.

To read the article titled, “Health minister refuses to back down over cheap ARVs,” click here

Source:

Eye witness News
New HIV Treatment for Gauteng
- antiretrovirals
- HIV and AIDS
The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development has announced that the new HIV and AIDS treatments will be available in all the province’s hospitals and clinics from this month.

The department spokesperson, Mandla Sidu, points out that, "The new guidelines ensure that all HIV-positive pregnant women and patients on TB treatment with a CD4 count of 350 or less will now receive antiretrovirals (ARVs) from government clinics and hospitals."

Sidu states that HIV-positive babies, from birth to one-year, will receive ARV drugs irrespective of their CD4 count.

To read the article titled, “New HIV treatment in Gauteng,” click here.

Source:

News24

Article link:

http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/AidsFocus/1058/9e12c5315401459bba3e7f4...
Motsoaledi Calls for Research Into ARVs Usage
Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi has called on the generic medicine industry to invest more into researching the long term effects of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).

Motsoaledi argues that HIV/AIDS is a chronic disease in which some cases require people to start taking medication in their 20s. This means some patients could end being on ARVs for up to 50 years.

Motsoaledi also expressed concern about the unknown side effects of such long exposures to drugs.

To read the article titled, “More research needed for long term ARV use: minister,” click here.

Source:

<br /> Citizen

Article link:

http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=102150,1,22
WHO May Change ARV Guidelines on Pregnant Mothers
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says international guidelines for mothers taking antiretrovirals (ARVs) may change, with new evidence showing HIV infection rates among babies are significantly cut when mothers are given prolonged ARV treatment during breastfeeding.

WHO is reviewing its 2006 recommendations on the use of ARVs in pregnant women, including during the breastfeeding period.

The new guidelines are expected to be published by the end of 2009 and will take into account emerging data.

To read the article titled, “WHO may change ARV guidelines for pregnant mothers,” click here.

Source:

<br /> Reuters

Article link:

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56K6XB20090721
Financial Crisis a Blow to ARV Rollout
- antiretrovirals
- HIV and AIDS
A new United Nations study has found that the global financial crisis is impacting the ability of people with HIV and AIDS to obtain life-saving drugs.

A survey conducted last month by the World Bank, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) found that 8 out of 69 countries already face shortages of antiretroviral drugs or other disruptions to AIDS treatment.

The study also showed that respondents in 22 countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, and Asia and Pacific expect the crisis to impact treatment programmes over the coming year.

To read the article titled, “Africa: AIDS funding suffers due to global economic crisis – UN,” click here.

Source:

<br /> All Africa

Article link:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200904280937.html