South African Organizations Get Slice of Bush Plan to Fight AIDS

The 15-member Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PSCM) -- launched on Sept. 28 as part of President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) -- includes three South African agencies. The new alliance will seek to supply medicines, including antiretrovirals, to several nations, most of them in Africa, and to protect the supply of ARVs from being interrupted by factors such as weather and civil wars.

All 15 members of PSCM have substantial histories in distributing medicines in difficult settings. The majority are U.S.-based non-profit organizations, selected by a panel representing the US Agency for International Development and the U.S. departments of health and defense.

Among the South Africa-based agencies, the nonprofit Affordable Medicines for Africa was chosen especially for its rapid-response capabilities and ability to provide Africa-manufactured medicines. Fuel Logistics Group, described as "one of South Africa's top black economic empowerment companies," has 25 years of experience distributing medicines. North West University will mostly provide quality control of medicines and HIV test kits through its Center for Quality Assurance of Medicines, said professor Theuns Eloff, the university's vice-rector.

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