Zambia gets new AIDS drugs

A new range of antiretroviral drugs were launched in Zambia on Monday, the 'Post' newspaper reported. The drugs - manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy and to be distributed by Melcome Pharmaceuticals Limited - were officially launched in Lusaka by Health Minister Levison Mumba.

Melcome managing director Samar Kumar Mukherjee was reported as saying that the drugs were the cheapest on the market and were going for between US $40 and US $45 per month. He said this meant infected people would spend between US $1.80 to US $2 per day. "These are the cheapest drugs on the market, such that every person including those from lower society, would benefit from," he was quoted as saying.

The report listed the drugs as Avalam 150 which contains Lamivudine, Nevipan containing Nevirapine, Aviro-Z with Zidovudine and Avocomb containing a combination of Lamivudine and Zidovudine. Launching the drugs, Mumba was reported as saying that guidelines on usage had been developed by the government and were awaiting implementation. Mumba challenged the private sector to contribute to the development of an infrastructure in the fight against AIDS. "The government is committed to ensuring the disease is combated. All sectors of society need to be involved in this fight," he said.

According to Mumba, about 20 percent of the people in the country were infected by HIV/AIDS, a figure representing about two million people. Mumba said the percentage might appear small, but it was high with regard to a growing population. "In Zambia, AIDS is not just a health crisis but a threat to the development of society. Not only does it stagnate the present but also the future," he was quoted as saying.