HC Deb 27 January 2004 vol 417 cc282-3W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the supplies of anti-retroviral drugs in Nigeria; and what steps he will take to assist in the event of a shortfall. [150113]

Hilary Benn

Supplies of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs in Nigeria are critically low. Most hospitals have run out of ARVs over the past months. This is due to delays in the release of Government funds, and because over 14,000 people were started on a treatment programme designed for 10,000.

In order to address the situation, President Obassanjo recently approved an extra £2 million for ARVs, and a supply contract is currently being awarded. It is expected that the Global Fund will provide £25 million worth of ARVs, and further supplies have been promised by the United States and the World Health Organisation.

However, ensuring reliable ARV treatment is not just a question of supply, it is also about strengthening the health system. The Nigerian Health Minister has developed an excellent strategy for reform of the health sector' which DFID plans to support. We are in addition providing £1 million to the National Action Committee on AIDS, which is coordinating the national response.

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