Mozambique approves HIV/Aids drug plant
17/06/2008
Mozambique has given the green light to a $23 million (£12 million) pharmaceutical plant that will specialise in manufacturing antiretroviral drugs for HIV sufferers.
Despite already offering ARV treatment to all of the 1.6 million Mozambicans who are living with HIV, just a fraction of those in need of the drugs currently receive them.
The World Health Organisation has blamed that situation on reluctance among citizens to undergo HIV testing, but according to deputy health Minister Aida Libombo boosting drug production is also crucial to the fight.
"There is no doubt about it - we are definitely going to install it," Dr Libombo told Reuters during an interview. "We are in a process of organising the operational process for the installation of the ARV drug factory. Everything has already been agreed upon."
Funding for the new plant - which will also manufacture treatments for malaria and other infectious diseases - is to be gleaned from international donation s and sponsorship.
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva first advocated developing the facility during a visit to the country in 2004. His country has since pledged to provide medical technology to the plant, which it wants to develop generic drugs for neighbouring African nations as well.
The UN's chief representative to Mozambique, Ndolamb Ngokwey, last week said that the spread of HIV was hindering economic development and worsening poverty in the country.
Some 16.3 per cent of Mozambicans are currently living with HIV/Aids, and an estimated 500 citizens become newly-infected every day.
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