KENYA TO LAUNCH FREE ARVS PROGRAMME

Kenya is to launch a free treatment scheme for HIV/AIDS sufferers, according to government officials. The programme -- to be financed by the UN-administered Global Fund -- will be available for those unable to pay the current KES100 (US$1.31) fee for ARV drugs. The country currently treats just 44,000 sufferers.

The move can be seen as a further indication that Kenya's existing measures are insufficient to treat adequate numbers of cases, with provision especially limited in rural areas. However, in common with a growing number of African states, the government is unlikely to rely exclusively on multilateral donation programmes.

Meanwhile, Botswana has become the latest African country to sign an HIV/AIDS accord with Brazil. Although the specifics of the agreement were not immediately announced, it is likely that the pandemic-struck country will make use of mass-produced Brazilian ARVs and associated technologies and expertise.