INDICES> "3x5" AIDS Initiative Imperiled By Low Funding, U.N. Says

[Leela McCullough <leela@healthnet.org>]

 From U.N. Wire
 Monday, March 15, 2004

 "3x5" AIDS Initiative Imperiled By Low Funding, U.N. Says

 The U.N. initiative to provide anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) to 3 million
AIDS sufferers in developing countries by 2005 is facing funding shortfalls
that could put it out of operation, U.N. and World Health Organization
officials have said.

 Just $2.3 billion has been secured out of the $5.5 billion needed, with
only the United Kingdom, Sweden and Spain having contributed to date.

 "If <http://www.who.int/3by5/en/>3 x 5 fails, as it surely will without the
dollars, then there are no excuses left, no rationalizations to hide behind.
There will only be the mass graves of the betrayed," said Stephen Lewis, the
U.N. secretary general's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.

 The
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1169196,00.html>Lo
ndon
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1169196,00.html>Ob
server reports that some countries, particularly the United States, are
reluctant to fund the project in part because of its reliance on fixed-dose
combination of ARVs, which infringe on patent law in some wealthier nations.

 The United States has said it questions the safety of the combination
drugs, but AIDS activists argue that the U.S. stance has been shaped by
resistance from pharmaceutical companies, which disapprove of the drugs
because they are made from ingredients discovered by the companies and under
patent.

 "The U.S.'s position is to buy drugs only approved by the (Federal Drug
Administration)," said Ellen 'T Hoen of <http://www.msf.org/>Medecins sans
Frontieres.  "The fixed dose can't be approved by the FDA because of patent
problems, not because of their safety and efficacy."

 The United States is sponsoring a two-day conference later this month in
Botswana to discuss the principles of regulation of the ARV combination
drugs (Alison Langley, London Observer, March 14).

 In other news, Zimbabwe is set to launch ARV treatment this month at five
pilot centers, with 260,000 HIV sufferers expected to benefit by the end of
next year,
<http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39969&SelectRegion=Southern_Afr
ica&SelectCountry=ZIMBABWE>Integrated Regional Information Networks reports.
WHO is providing technical support for the project, which is estimated to
cost less than $25 per month because of partnerships with local
manufacturers (IRIN, March 10).

 Meanwhile, activists in nearby Swaziland, which introduced ARVs last year
after significant international pressure, warn that distribution is
haphazard and patients are not given enough guidance in their treatment
programs,
<http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39885&SelectRegion=Southern_Afr
ica&SelectCountry=SWAZILAND>IRIN reports.

 "There are pharmacies in Mbabane that sell ARVs to anyone coming off the
street," said Siphiwe Hlope, co-director of the AIDS support group Swazis
for Positive Living.  "They do not dispense instructions, because the queue
of people wishing to buy (the drugs) is so long."

 "We concur with the government's policy to permit ARVs, but a law
regulating their distribution is needed ­ anyone can sell ARVs.  Taxi
drivers going to clinics to pick up ARVs for people get an extra supply, and
they sell them to passengers," Hlope added.

 Activists also worry that patients are starting and then stopping
treatment, risking treatment resistance.

 "People are not told to expect side effects.  When they become nauseous,
dizzy and develop flu-like symptoms, which is to be expected with ARVs, they
tell us they stop taking the pills because they think they are poisoning
them," said one health worker.

 The Health Ministry has said it will prepare a statement to address
improper distribution.

 According to U.N. figures, 38.6 percent of adults in Swaziland are infected
with HIV.  The National Emergency Response Committee on HIV/AIDS says half
of all Swazis in their twenties have the virus (IRIN, March 5).


 __________________________________________________


 Leela McCullough, Ed.D.
 Director of Information Services

 SATELLIFE
 30 California Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
 Tel: +617-926-9400    Fax: +617-926-1212
 Email: leela@usa.healthnet.org
 Web: http://www.healthnet.org

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