At least 100,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania will receive anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) free of charge by the end of 2006, Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye announced last month. "The target is to ensure at least 400,000 people are on free ARV treatment within the next five years," he said in a speech before parliament in Tanzania's administrative capital, Dodoma.
Equity in Health
Free ARVs for 100,000 by 2006, Tanzanian prime minister says
Free medical care in Kenyan public health centres
In a bid to improve access to medical care for millions of poor Kenyans, the government announced it would provide free health services in state-run dispensaries and health centres. "With effect from 1 July, 2004, all charges for prevention services, treatment, diagnosis in public dispensaries and health centres must stop," Health Minister Charity Ngilu told a news conference in the capital, Nairobi.
From "Marvelous Momentum" to Health Care for All
Farmer P: Foreign Affairs, 2007
The last quarter of the twentieth century saw little investment in international health or in the health problems of the world's poor. Over the past few years, as Laurie Garrett notes, "driven by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, a marvelous momentum for health assistance has been built and shows no signs of abating." But after this upbeat introduction, Garrett proceeds to lay out the perils associated with this new momentum, chief among them that an influx of AIDS money has drawn attention away from other health problems of the poor, weakened public health systems, contributed to brain drain, and failed to reach those most in need.
Frustration over delay in namibian drug roll-out
Frustration is mounting among activists over the Namibian government's delay in providing anti-AIDS drugs to its HIV-positive citizens. The government announced in April this year that it had budgeted US $10.9 million for the purchase of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV-positive people. But while the health ministry has on numerous occasions indicated their intention to provide treatment, this had not been translated into action, activists told PlusNews.
Full impact of H1N1 in Africa ‘yet to be seen’
Magamdela P: Health-e, 15 August 2009
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the full impact of the swine flu outbreak in Africa has yet to be seen. The African Region was the last to experience the pandemic amongst the six WHO regions, and concerns are mounting about its potential effect. ‘What is of particular concern to us as Africans is that, although the pandemic has spread to our continent last, we may be more severely affected by it,’ said South African health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. The concern is exacerbated by Africa’s burden of disease. ‘It is well known that this continent has always been worst affected by any outbreak of communicable diseases – whether it is HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, one or more of the haemorrhagic fevers. It is, therefore, essential for all countries within the continent to ensure that we are adequately prepared for all of these, but in the present context prepared to deal with the influenza pandemic’, he added.
Fund to focus on Aids prevention
A proposed new multi-billion dollar global fund for health will concentrate on Aids prevention rather than the mass purchase of expensive anti-retroviral drugs, a United Nations conference in Geneva concluded on Monday. The proposed fund is likely to be formally launched later this month at a UN conference on Aids in New York or at the Group of Eight meeting in Genoa in July. Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, has said the fund needs $7bn-$10bn, but it seems likely to raise only around $1bn this year, with the US pledging $200m.
Funds Hamper Those Who Need Malaria Drugs
Medicines to fight the rising malaria epidemic don't reach millions who need them because the money and the international commitment to supply the drugs are lacking, experts said at a conference. Although malaria kills more than a million people a year - most of them African children - national and international policy makers show a "lack of urgency and political will" to use new treatments in the face of drug resistance, conference organizers said in a statement.
Fury at Zambia army HIV test
The Zambian army's decision to turn away HIV positive applicants has been angrily criticised. Health Minister Brian Chituwo said the new policy was introduced because "with the excessive physical military activity recruiting HIV positive staff would be sending them to the grave faster". But this reasoning is rejected by medical experts who say good nutrition and effective medical treatment, including anti-retroviral drugs, will solve this dilemma.
G8 charged with global inequalities
As yet another meeting of G8 heads of states started on June 1, the People's Health Movement called upon people around the world to peacefully protest against the policies of neo-liberal globalisation imposed on them by the G8 rich countries. "Over 90,000 children will die from preventable diseases during just the three days when G8 will be held. Poverty, non-access to health care and lack of basic sanitation are the key reasons for these deaths. The G 8 leaders should be doing a serious soul searching," said a PHM spokesperson.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29811
Gabon: New Ebola Outbreak Confirmed
The World Health Organization says the Ebola virus has killed several people in Gabon in recent days. Kenya, Uganda, and the DR Congo have also reported the outbreak. The disease, first identified in 1976 near the Congo's Ebola River, has no known cure and is transmitted by direct contact with the blood and secretions of infected persons.