Uganda is facing another shortage of life-saving HIV drugs, health activists warn.
The shortage has been attributed to the failure by health authorities in the country to import enough stock of antiretroviral therapy (ART) medicines last year.
The East African country’s Ministry of Health announced in December last year that it had run out of imported HIV/AIDs drugs.
In an interview with Reuters however, the Finance Ministry’s permanent secretary Keith Muhakanizi blamed the shortage on the depreciation of Uganda’s shilling, which has affected the government’s ability to finance drug imports.
To curb the shortage, the Global fund against HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis announced it would send an advance supply of antiretroviral medicine to Uganda.
Health activists said the stockout will affect 240,000 patients, who will be forced to modify treatment plans or stop taking their medicine altogether.
