Nigeria: AHF Press Conference Calls Attention to Sub-Standard HIV Medication

-
Treatment Action Movement (TAM), a coalition of HIV treatment activists across Nigeria, in collaboration with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF-Nigeria) have launched a campaign aimed at eliminating the supply of sub-standard ARVs at treatment centers in Nigeria
AHF Nigeria, the local branch of global health organization AIDS Healthcare Foundation, teamed up with a coalition of Nigerian HIV activist organizations for a press conference on October 24 in the capital city of Abuja, where they called on the government to stop filling Nigerian treatment centers with sub-standard antiretroviral (ARV) medications to treat HIV/AIDS.

One of the brands causing the groups concern is Tyonex Nigeria Ltd., which supplies the AZT/3TC/NVP and the TDF/3TC combinations of ARVs with funding from the MDGs funds through the Federal Ministry of Health.

The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assert the Tyonex ARV pills are brittle, break easily and dissolve in one's mouth before swallowing, and furthermore the package presentation is substandard, with poor labeling that res-
embles the work of professional counterfeit drugs peddlers. For example, some of the labels were actually upside down with conflicting and incorrect instructions for use.
“One of our patients observed that one of the packages she collected in a treatment centre contained 54 tablets and a broken half instead of 60. This is 27 days’ supply of drugs with a half tablet that is of no use for a pack that is expected to last for 30 days," said Steve Aborisade, a key member of TAM.

"The drug literature was stuffed inside the same plastic pack as the ARVs, giving little assurance for hygienic handling of the tablets during packaging. Additionally, the information about the drug provided under “Presentation” on the front side of the literature conflicts with what is written under “Package” on the reverse side of the same literature,” Aborisade added.

Abuja press conference - October 24, 2013
"If this product could easily fail requisite physical composition, will it not fail the bigger test of chemical composition in quality and content?" said Kemi Gbadamosi, AHF Nigeria's Advocacy and Marketing Manager.

"We note the risks posed to patients in terms of poor compliance, adherence and poor treatment outcomes which can lead to unfavorable results for several thousand Nigerians who have had no choice but to swallow what Tyonex is now supplying."

For more photos from the event, click here.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Herpes Simplex Virus ( Cold Sores)

-
Image
What are the symptoms, & how is it diagnosed? The symptoms of herpes depends on the site of disease: Oral herpes (cold sores): Sores around the mouth and nostrils. They may itch or be painful. They might look like the sore in this picture: Genital herpes: Sores on the penis in males or near or in the vagina in women. Genital herpes can also cause sores near the anus, including the area between the anus and the genitals (the perineum). Sometimes, genital herpes can cause pain when urinating or defecation. They might look like the sores in this picture: How is herpes diagnosed? Oral and genital herpes are well-known diseases. Most doctors and other health-care providers know herpes when they see it. In turn, both types of herpes can often be diagnosed—and treatment recommended— simply by examining the sores. However, guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that mouth sores in particular be confirmed by laboratory testi...
Read more

Hacked To Death: Kawere Fahad 21 Years Dies From His Wounds

-
Image
Driven, young, restless and focused begins to describe Kawere Fahad 21 years.  Rest In Peace! Wakiso District, in the Central Region of Uganda is very important to Uganda as DC is to USA or Buckingham is to UK. This area has the biggest number of schools per land size, the oldest Basilica in Africa, real estate hub and is the dormitory District for many urbanites in Uganda.  It is in this area that one finds such suburbs like Kayunga and Nansana. These suburbs never go to sleep!   One would expect that this metropolitan profile puts it at a place where murder cases are investigated and deterred by police and communities. And that assailants are stopped in their tracks before they delivered a deeply bruising or fatal blow. But this was not the case for Fahad Kawere. KGN has learnt that Fahad and a first batch of friends had a meeting which went up to around 2:30 am (1st August 2019). After the meeting, Fahad got a message and told this...
Read more

Zimbabwean HIV Positive Feminist Martha Tholanah Wins 2015 David Kato Vision & Voice Award

-
Renowned Ugandan activist Frank Mugisha will present Martha Tholanah with the award on stage at the prestigious Teddy Awards ceremony in Berlin  this Friday . 11 February 2015  [Berlin]  – The David Kato Vision & Voice Award (DKVVA) is proud to announce that the 2015 award will go to HIV Positive activist Martha Tholanah from Zimbabwe. Martha risks her life everyday to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people across the country. Her activism is a powerful example of a straight ally standing in solidarity with LGBTI people despite threats to her own safety and security. Martha also demonstrates extraordinary leadership on behalf of other marginalized communities, fighting for women’s rights, disability rights and sex worker rights both locally and internationally. She will receive the award on stage  this Friday , at the prestigious Teddy Awards ceremony which is part of the Berlin International Film Festiva...
Read more