Government to roll out new AVR drug from April

The Zimbabwean Government is planning to start distributing a new Anti Retro Viral drug called Tenofovir in April, following complaints by recipients of Stavudine of side effects that have in some cases led to death.

The Ministry of Health head of TB unit, Dr Charles Sandy revealed to journalists during a media briefing hosted by Safaids in Harare that the combination of Tenofonvir, Laminuvine and Nevorapine is less toxic and causes minimum side effects.

Stavudine also known as Zerit or D4t is associated with side effects such as diabetes, muscularity, loss of memory, general body pain and fatigue, headaches and loss of libido in males. The continued use of the drug by the Ministry of Health resulted in some recipients defaulting risking developing drug resistant trends of HIV.

“We are changing the drug in view of the complaints recipients are giving, in accordance with World Health Organisation new guidelines. The probability of becoming resistant to an ARV drug is very high, if taken for more than three years.

The new drug is less toxic to human liver hence the recommendation although the cost of administering that drug is much higher,” revealed Dr Charles Sandy.

According to Dr Charles Sandy the cost of administering Stavudine combination (triomune) at a state hospital is $79 per annum whereas latest drugs which are less toxic and patient friendly will cost at least $137 a year per individual. 

Currently Zimbabwe has about 1, 3 million people living HIV of which 593, 000 are in need of Ante Retro Therapy although only 301,198 people are being catered for.

Despite achieving a sharp decline in HIV/Aids prevalence within a short time Zimbabwe is still suffering from a high mortality rate of around 86 000 mainly due to TB. It is estimated that about 80 percent of people with TB have HIV hence the integrated model of testing people with any ailment for HIV.

Efforts have been put in place to reduce the death toll to 46 000 by 2015 through provision of quality HIV care, expanding and sustaining the currency WHO programmes, early initialisation of ART, increased laboratory capacity, nutritional support and abolition of user fees.

By John Cassim

Media centre in pictures

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Zambezi Valley - Zimbabwe's most Marginalised Region

The Zambezi Valley is one of the most disadvantaged vulnerable regions in Zimbabwe with the lowest social indicators in the country, a Zimbabwe born UK-based researcher has said.

Sunset in the Zambezi valley

The marginalization of the Tonga and Korekore people is largely attributed to the involuntary displacement in 1957 to make way for the Kariba Dam Hydroelectric Scheme and yet it remains  one of the richest regions endowed with natural resources in Zimbabwe.

Dr Bernard Manyena, a researcher from Northumbria University, UK, who was  brought up in Binga was one of the participants at the recent conference which focused on Access and Benefit-sharing of Resources in the Zambezi Valley. 

Said the Researcher in an interview with Media Centre Zim on the sidelines of the workshop: “The CAMPFIRE model is one of the best models the world over, which adopts an ecosystem services approach. However, putting conservation ahead of poverty has caused a lot of tensions between Rural District Councils, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife  Management Authority (ZPWMA) and the communities.

“We need to re-think and refine the model to appropriately tackle deep-rooted causes of poverty in the Zambezi Valley using available natural and genetic resources. This is in line with Conference of Parties 10 on Biodiversity  held in Japan in November 2010, which emphasizes equitable access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources.

“In relation to fishing, the fishers in the Zambezi valley have had conflicts with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority since the displacement to pave way for Kariba Dam in 1957. Fishing is one of the high risk jobs today, yet the fishers’ livelihoods  are dependent on fishing.”

One of the issues discussed at the conference was the Kariba Lakeshore Combination Master Plan (KLCMP) which was approved by the government in 1999. The conference outcome includes an action plan on how access and benefit-sharing issues should be taken forward and also ensure the KLMCP is implemented by central government, local authorities, non-governmental agencies and the private sector.

By Gilbert Munetsi