The intention of the public demonstration of people with HIV / AIDS in Angola was presented by the president of the Angolan Network of AIDS Service Organizations and Major Endemics (Anaso), António Coelho, who says he is "concerned with the situation".
According to the NGO leader, at the moment a large number of people living with HIV / AIDS are concerned about the absence of antiretrovirals and intend to move towards a demonstration "in order to take their concern to the public domain".
Because, he added, "they understand that in the time of covid-19 and with money to fight against covid-19 there must also be money to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis".
"And they do not understand, why is it that in a regular and systematic way in Angola this situation of the breakdown of the 'stock' of antiretrovirals is happening, they think it is time to take a drastic measure and make people responsible for this type of situation "he stated.
The question of the stockout of antiretrovirals, especially second-line drugs, in Angola was presented last Thursday by Anaso, in an open letter in which the NGO warned that the situation "could be extended" for first-line drugs .
"The country is currently experiencing a situation of rupture of 'stocks' of second-line drugs, which may force patients to progress to a third-line situation, which the country unfortunately does not have, because drugs are very expensive and go beyond the Government's financial availability ", read the document.
In response, the Government referred that the rupture of the 'stock' of antiretrovirals in the country "stems from the international situation, due to covid-19", guaranteeing that "everything is being done so that these drugs are not missing from patients".
"As for antiretrovirals, we say that it is a challenge at this point, not only in Angola, but it is a worldwide challenge, Angola has also strengthened its 'stock', it has done its best, but there is always one or the other drug in which there is a difficulty ", said the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, last Friday.
Speaking at a press conference, the official argued that the antiretroviral factories are mainly located in China and India "and these markets are currently experiencing difficulties as a result of the covid-19".
However, he said that the Government is "working in partnership with United Nations agencies" and that "some antiretrovirals" have recently arrived "in the country, but admitted that it is necessary to" greatly increase "the" stocks "of the medicine.
This Wednesday, the president of Anaso assured that he is persuading people living with HIV / AIDS not to take to the streets in protest, as the organization is looking for "solutions for dialogue with the Government and other related structures ".
"We are predisposed to collaborate with the competent structures on the current situation of the existence and location of antiretrovirals, to participate in urgent response processes that avoid stock rupture", stressed António Coelho.
According to Anaso statistics, Angola has about 350,000 people with HIV / AIDS, of which 93,000 are undergoing antiretroviral therapy and, of these, about 30 percent are on second-line treatment.
