Latest update February 21st, 2025 12:47 PM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Supply of ARV remains threat HIV/AIDS fights – Health Minister

Oct 03, 2010 News

The struggle by the Ministry of Health over the past several months to maintain its supply of antiretroviral drugs has not be due to the lack of finances but rather because of the inability of the supplier to deliver.
This statement was made by Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Friday evening even as he launched World AIDS 2010 at Cara Lodge, on Quamina Street, in the city.
“We have had money and we have paid for our antiretroviral drugs but somehow the supplier has been unable to meet his obligation to us…I know the media has been behind us and it has forgotten the story because they think we have solved the problem…”
But according to Minister Ramsammy, the problem has only been temporarily solved as the supplier has still not been able to provide either the emergency supply or the larger order. Minister Ramsammy said that the Ministry has had to rely on friends in Suriname, Haiti, Ghana and Jamaica.
“I thank PAHO/WHO; I thank SCMS and USAID and all of our colleagues that have been helping; they have stood by us but we can’t keep borrowing; the supplier must meet their obligation.”
The Minister alluded to the shortage situation in order to amplify the point that although Guyana continues to make significant strides in addressing HIV/AIDS, there are still some challenges that surface.
“These are the risks we face; because while on the one hand everyone wants us to meet certain transparency as it is called, transparency has its own challenges,” Minister Ramsammy asserted.
According to him, although the Ministry of Health has used the open tendering process thus causing a previous supplier to be changed the new supplier who fairly won the tendering process has not been able to meet its obligation.
“That is the dilemma although we have many things that we can celebrate we still have things that remain threats and ensuring the reliable supply of our antiretroviral medicines remains one of those threats.”
It was just a few months ago the media had highlighted that the local health sector was being rocked by a shortage of the antiretroviral drug, Efavirenz, a combination drug intended to treat persons infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Minister Ramsammy in admitting to the state of affairs had revealed that the problem was a countrywide one which had resulted through no fault of Ministry of Health officials.
A supply of some 3,000 bottles of the much needed Efavirenz, antiretroviral medication was scheduled to arrive in the country this morning, thereby bringing relief to the health sector which has been battling with a shortage of the drug for some time.
Minister Ramsammy told this publication last evening that his Ministry has been able to confirm that the medication along with several others will arrive aboard an Amerijet Cargo flight.
Another supply of about 14,000 bottles is scheduled to arrive soon after, according to the Minister.
This will ensure that the local health sector has an adequate supply of the drug until this time next year.
World AIDS Day 2010 was launched along with an innovative Supermarket Initiative which will see the involvement of some 10 supermarkets in the city. World AIDS Day 2010 will be observed under the theme “Universal Access and Human Rights.”

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Everest Masters to engage Costa Rica in T20 fixtures

Everest Masters to engage Costa Rica in T20 fixtures

Feb 21, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- The Everest Cricket Club Masters will take on host Costa Rica in several T20 matches over the weekend. The squad departed Guyana on Wednesday and skipper Rajesh Singh expressed...
Read More
GCB saddened at passing of Former GCB Vice-President, BCB President Lennox Phillips

GCB saddened at passing of Former GCB...

Feb 21, 2025

Guyana/Barbados battle as opening round gets underway from February 24

Guyana/Barbados battle as opening round gets...

Feb 21, 2025

ESCL T20 starts March 2

ESCL T20 starts March 2

Feb 21, 2025

Guyana boys team selected for 2025 PAHF Jr Challenge

Guyana boys team selected for 2025 PAHF Jr...

Feb 20, 2025

Mainstay Goldstar FC receives NSC support ahead of GFF Elite League debut

Mainstay Goldstar FC receives NSC support ahead...

Feb 20, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]