NEW YORK, NY (June 27, 2007): This week AID FOR AIDS International sent more than 27,000 bottles of antiretroviral medication to governments in Central America to help in the fight against HIV and AIDS in these countries.
The medication, worth approximately $130,000 (USD), was sent to National AIDS Programs in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Included in this donation were the following generic antiretrovirals: Avocomb (Lamivudine, 3TC + Zidovudine, AZT), Avolam (Lamivudine, 3TC), Nevipan (Nevirapine, NVP), and Avostav (Stavudine, d4T).

This shipment comes at a particularly opportune time, as it coincides with serious shortages of antiretroviral stocks in this region. Donated medication will be used to provide treatment coverage for the general population, as well as for a specific number of individuals identified as part of each country’s mobile population.

‘Mobile populations’ broadly refers to people who move from one place to another, temporarily, seasonally, or permanently, for various voluntary and/or involuntary reasons. In general, mobile populations face greater risk of exposure to HIV and AIDS, are more likely to live in poverty, have poorer educational background, limited health care services, and encounter economic hardship and violence. In Central America, border policies and increased opportunities for seasonal employment increase the rates of migration and travel.

In total, the donation will provide the daily treatment regimen for one year for 400 mobile individuals. In addition, unlike many other organizations, AID FOR AIDS will maintain some surveillance over the donated medication. Recipient countries will submit bi-annual data on several general reporting indicators, aimed at capturing the efficiency of the distribution process as well as the impact of the donation.

For more information about this or any other program at AID FOR AIDS International, please visit our website at www.aidforaids.org or contact Tobey Busch, Director of the Universal Treatment Access Initiative at (212) 337-8043 or tobey.busch@aidforaids.org

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