Zimbabwe Declares Emergency to Fight AIDS

Originally published by Reuters Health, May 27, 2002

HARARE (Reuters) — The Zimbabwean government has declared a six-month emergency period to deal with one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infections in the world.

In a notice published in the government's weekly gazette made available on Monday, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the emergency order would allow people with HIV or AIDS to use generic drugs.

Health officials say an average 2,500 people die from AIDS every week in Zimbabwe, and that at least 20% of the state's 14 million people have HIV, the virus that causes the killer disease.

"In view of the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS among the population of Zimbabwe, the minister hereby declares an emergency for a period of six months, with effect from the promulgation of this notice for the purpose of enabling the state or a person authorised … to make or use any patented drug," Chinamasa said in the notice issued last Friday.

The minister said the declaration would also allow President Robert Mugabe's government and other authorised people "to import any generic drug used in the treatment of persons suffering from HIV/AIDS or HIV/AIDS-related conditions".

Zimbabwe has permitted the use of antiretrovirals, especially for pregnant mothers, since last year.

Mugabe's critics say the 78-year-old Zimbabwean leader— who is battling a severe economic and political crisis blamed on his controversial policies—is not paying adequate attention to the AIDS problem.

But the government denies the charge, saying Mugabe is one of the few leaders in the region to have established an AIDS levy to deal with the epidemic.