[e-drug] ART scale up challenges

["Alemayehu Lemma" <alemtghb@ethionet.et>]

E-DRUG: ART scale up challenges
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[Moderator assumes ART means antiretroviral treatment]

Dear  colleagues

My country Ethiopia launched free ART rollout program on 24 January 2005. 
Our target was to reach about 41000 patients at the end of 2005, 59000 at 
the end of 2005 and 100000 at the end of 2006. Today we are about 
50119 (cumulative ever started sep 8 2006). The supply and lab facilities have been planned based on assumption of the growing ART demand. However the number of patients using ART service is not as expected. We are looking to alternative strategy how to reach the patients. I would like you to suggest and share your experience on the expansion of ART service in low income setting.

Alemayehu Lemma Wolde
Chief Expert Pharmacist,
P.O.Box 43454
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

e-mail: alemtghb@ethionet.et
        alemayehulemma@yahoo.com