Kenya has exempted tax on a donation of HIV drugs that had been in the middle of a stalemate for three months causing a shortage in drugs.
The finance ministry said the exemption to the US development agency (USAID)'s donation was made after the health ministry said millions of Kenyans who depend on the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs were affected.
Many public hospitals were giving the drugs in rations, to stretch the supply. Patients used to get six months’ supply of medication at a go, but now, they can only get weekly doses.
The shortage was due to a tax standoff after USAID declined to import the drugs through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa), citing corruption and mismanagement of the drugs. The agency opted to use a private company for importation and country level distribution.
Two important drugs, Nevirapine and Zidovudine syrup are completely out of stock. One is used to suppress viral load and boost immunity, and the other drug is used to prevent mother-to child transmission.
According to the ministry of health, last year, at least 6,800 babies were born with HIV because their mothers did not take medication properly during pregnancy and after birth.
Mothers at the moment have been advised not to breastfeed their children, to prevent transmission, since the babies are not receiving the right medical combination.
Latest Stories
-
Chale Wote Street Art Festival: A call for artists ahead of 2024 edition
55 mins -
Floods: We’re exposed but my team and I are ‘running’ to catch up – Oppong Nkrumah
1 hour -
5 traits of sweet, committed men that may seem like red flags at first
2 hours -
We met on Twitter and our first date was a week-long road trip
2 hours -
The biggest mistake people make when meeting someone in person after talking online
3 hours -
I traveled 500 miles for a first date
3 hours -
My cousin saved my life and she never knew
3 hours -
Top UN court orders Israel to allow food and medical aid into Gaza
3 hours -
Fallen ‘Crypto King’ Sam Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud
3 hours -
The architecture we have used to tackle housing deficit has not been robust enough – Oppong Nkrumah
3 hours -
Government suspends implementation of price Stabilisation and Recovery levy on petroleum products
4 hours -
Takoradi traders lament over low sales ahead of Easter
6 hours -
I’ve served Effia constituency well – Joseph Cudjoe
6 hours -
Michael Ampadu: One Student, One Tablet initiative will shape the future of education and innovation
6 hours -
I will partner you for development – Alan tells TUC
6 hours