The supply of free antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs is fast dwindling in Uganda, raising fears that the people using them might find themselves with no treatment after August, Daily Monitor reported on Friday.

Tonny Takenzire, an official from the National Guidance and Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV, said some treatment centers are no longer enlisting any more people living with HIV on their admission program.

He warned that soon referral hospitals would be the only centers giving free ARVS.

"Even national referral hospitals would be running out of antiretroviral drugs because the support from the Global Fund has been delayed by procurement," he said.

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the major financier for the purchase of first-line ARV regimen ( zidovudine and lamivudine), has been supporting almost half of people on antiretroviral treatment in Uganda.

Last August, the Fund temporarily suspended all of its five grants worth a total of 201 million U.S dollars to Uganda over reports of mismanagement. It later lifted the ban in November.

Beatrice Were, a top HIV/AIDS activist, from Action Aid International, described the situation as "serious."

"The batch of ARVs that people are surviving on at the moment is what was purchased before the suspension of the Global Fund. And, ever since the ban was lifted there has not been any procurement," she said.

Sam Okuonzi, the program coordinator for Ernst & Young, the caretaker managers of the fund, confirmed the looming scarcity of the drugs.

"I have heard of the scare. It is true some drugs have run low and will be running low in all distribution outlets," he said.

Okuonzi said arrangements were underway to procure more drugs but that the process was being delayed by the fact that there was only one supplier.

At least 70,000 Ugandans had access to ARVs by end of 2005, surpassing the target of 60,000 set by UNAIDS. Once a patient has started using ARVs, missing the drugs for a day could be disastrous as it could trigger drug resistance.

Uganda was one of only 18 countries that were able to achieve the target globally. The vast majority of HIV positive Ugandans cannot afford the high cost of the drugs, so the government together with donors provide them free of charge. The cheapest drug cost 30,000 shillings (16 dollars).

Access to treatment is a key part of the international and national strategies to combat HIV/AIDS since ARVs could increase the length and quality of life, and the productivity of the patients.

Source: Xinhua