Zambia to Give Free AIDS Drugs to 100,000 Patients

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa announced today that his government would give free antiretrovirals (ARVs) to roughly 100,000 patients next year through the public health system. In a state-of-the-nation address to parliament, Mwanawasa said 10,000 patients are already receiving government-funded ARVs. "This demonstrates our commitment to providing a whole continuum of treatment, care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS," the president said. "The pandemic has devastated our nation by decimating the productive age group among the population and consigning our citizens to the grave early, leaving in its wake orphans, widows and widowers." Estimates say one in every five Zambian adults is HIV-positive. ARVs cost about $200 a month in Zambia, where most people earn less than a dollar a day.

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