- The pharmaceutical group Roche has announced that it has signed two agreements with Ethiopia and Zimbabwe enabling "the free transfer of technical know-how that will make possible the [local] production of a generic anti-HIV drug" known as saquinavir. This represents a new step towards wider access to treatments against HIV.
This antiretroviral drug is prescribed as a second line treatment for HIV infection, when patients develop resistance to first-line treatments. The normal cost of these treatments is often in excess of US$ 5,000 (euro 3,700), which places them out of the reach of sufferers in the most countries where HIV/AIDS is widespread.
These agreements between the Swiss pharmaceutical firm and two African laboratories - the Addis Pharmaceutical Factory in Ethiopia and Varichem Pharmaceutical in Zimbabwe - form part of the Roche Technology Transfer Initiative launched in January 2006. Five similar agreements have already been signed between the Swiss laboratory and other companies in Africa.
Archibald Chimuka, director of Varichem Pharmaceutical in Zimbabwe believes that "the advantages of this agreement go beyond the simple production of saquinavir in that they translate into an improvement in the whole of our health system at a technical level and in terms of quality. Without this Roche initiative, our fellow citizens infected by HIV would quite simply not have access to the medicines they so badly need."
At the same time, the European Commission president José Manuel Barroso has announced that the European Union is to release euro 100 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. And a further euro 300 million will be added to this sum over the following three years.
This means that between now and 2010, the European Union is committed to contributing euro 400 million to this financial instrument which plays a driving role in the fight against HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Created in January 2002, the Fund has already played its part in financing almost 400 programmes in 136 countries, particularly in Africa.
Almost 26 million women, men and children are today living with the virus causing AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. They account for 60 percent of the worldwide total, whereas this part of the continent represents only 10 percent of the world population.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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