In a call published this Friday on social networks, Anaso reported that there have been people with HIV for more than three months without medication for lack of antiretrovirals.
"Anaso invites everyone, each in their own way, to make a virtual march for the lack of second line antiretrovirals in Angola", exhorted the organization.
In a statement to the Lusa agency, Anaso's president, António Coelho, said that the aim of the march is to appeal to people's awareness of the need for a positive current in favour of those people who have not had medication for more than three months and are experiencing great difficulties.
According to António Coelho, "most of these people live essentially from this medication in order to keep alive the hope of continuing to live".
"Our appeal is more in the sense that people, wherever they may be, in a virtual way, show solidarity with these people, making this march that they can then place or spread through their social networks", he explained.
For António Coelho, it doesn't make sense that since March there are no second line antiretroviral drugs, when part of those drugs that were in India already arrived in the country on the 4th of this month, "and until today, more than 15 days later, they are still to be cleared through customs".
"If we are concerned about the lives of Angolans, if the means for covid-19 arrive and on the same day are cleared through customs, why do AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis drugs have to follow these customs procedures at this time of urgency," he questioned.
António Coelho said the lack of medication from these people creates resistance, which in turn leads to viral mutation, creating a series of other consequences.
"Beyond this situation of resistance, if a large part of these people do not see their situation resolved they will evolve into a third line situation and the country has no third line medicine and there it will be dramatic", he warned.
Anaso is in daily contact with these people, António Coelho continued, stressing that "they are alarmed, worried, stressed, distressed".
"We believe that this kind of march will somehow comfort people, show that they are not alone, that society is with them and above all give a sign that life will change in the near future", he added.
