Zambia’s Ministry of Health To Distribute Free Antiretrovirals to 100,000 HIV-Positive People

Zambia's Ministry of Health has procured enough antiretroviral drugs to distribute them at no cost to 100,000 HIV-positive people in the country by December, MOH spokesperson Victor Mukonka said last week, the Zambian News Agency reports. The ministry has written letters to all health institutions in the country directing them to provide antiretroviral treatment to all people in the country living with HIV/AIDS. MOH also will open new HIV/AIDS treatment centers to increase access to the medication. In addition to providing antiretrovirals to more people, the ministry aims to employ more health professionals in order to scale up treatment programs in the country (Zambian News Agency, 8/11). Mukonka said the ministry has entered phase three of its antiretroviral treatment program, which ultimately aims to extend treatment coverage to the entire country (Xinhuanet, 8/12). One in five people in Zambia is HIV-positive (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/13).