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The recycling program at AID FOR AIDS
Recycling: The act of gathering, sorting, discarding, repacking, and storing unused medicines, before their expiration date, and redistributing them to non-US territories as humanitarian aid
AFA offices collect all medications related to the treatment of HIV & AIDS. These include:
Antiretroviral Medications, including:
• Protease Inhibitors (PI)
• Nucleoside Reverse Transciptase Inhibitors (NRTI)
• Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTI)
• Fusion Inhibitors
Medications to treat Opportunistic Infections, including:
• Antifungals/Antimycotics (such as Floconazole, Mycelex, Spornox)
• Antivirals (such as Acyclovir, Flamicovir, Valacylovir)
• Antibiotics (such as Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicilin, Metronidazole)
The medication recycling program has been designed to reach a specific target population: people living with HIV & AIDS (PLWHA) who are in treatment. Utilizing medical representatives, a drop-off program, and internet advertisements, AFA reaches the target population, their caregivers, and any community based organization that provides services for people affected by HIV & AIDS.
To date, these mechanisms have proven effective: in 2005, AFA collected $4.2 million worth of antiretroviral medications, and another $1 million in prophylaxis. Furthermore, at the end of 2005, 5000 people, in 24 different countries, received recycled medications from AFA.
The Medical Representative Initiative
In addition to efforts informing individuals about the recycling program, AFA directly addresses the physicians writing ARV prescriptions. AFA staff identifies and contacts local physicians, presenting the recycling program to each one personally. Physicians who wish to cooperate with AFA are provided with informational pieces for their clients and, more importantly, collect any unused medications from their patients. This resource is particularly important as it focuses on physicians: the first line in prescribing ARV medication. When a doctor changes a patient's ARV regimen, he/she can remind the patient not to discard unused medications, but, instead, bring them to the office for the doctor to donate to AFA.
To join this initiative please send an e-mail to: recycle@aidforaids.org
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The Drop-Off Initiative
The Drop-off Initiative was created to increase the efficiency and productivity of the collection process. Because 80% of the prescriptions donated come from individuals (rather than institutions or organizations), AFA developed a system of channeling medications into the organization, instead of receiving them one at a time.
The Drop-off Initiative consists of a network of community based organizations that provide services to PLWHA. These organizations agree to provide information about AFA and/or collect unused medications from their clients. To assist with collection, AFA created a standard kit of communication pieces. These pieces are displayed in specified drop-off points, located in waiting areas, lobbies or entrance halls of clinics, institutions or organizations. Actual drop-off boxes provide information about the AFA recycling program, while providing protective storage for the donated medicines. Promotional pieces increase public awareness and improve collection efficiency.
Through the Drop-off program, AFA creates and maintains a permanent and consistent relationship with institutions providing any kind of services to PLWHA. AFA records all donations enabling them to track the impact of each organization, providing the organization with annual statistics, such as lives saved and dollar equivalents for prescriptions collected. These statistics can be used in company annual reports, justifying the presence of the boxes and emphasizing their achievements and importance.
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To be part of the drop-off network, please send an e-mail to:
Samuel.jurado@aidforaids.org
List of drop-off points
FAQs about Donating Medicine to Aid for AIDS
Want to make a medicine Donation?
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