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August 11, 2006

U N I T E D N A T I O N S

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) -

[These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

CONTENT:

1 - LEBANON: Drug shortage threatens HIV/AIDS patients

BEIRUT, 11 August (PLUSNEWS) - The lives of hundreds of Lebanese living with HIV

and AIDS are under threat owing to the shortage of essential drugs in the

country, health care workers said.

" In one month, should the situation continue to deteriorate, HIV/AIDS patients'

problems will no doubt multiply, " said Mustafa al-Naqib, a physician and

director of the health ministry's National AIDS Programme.

Aid agencies and health workers warn that access into Lebanon and the major

conflict zones pose a serious problem for aid convoys carrying medicines.

The current conflict began on 12 July when Hezbollah, a Lebanese political party

with an armed wing, captured two Israeli soldiers. Israel launched a military

offensive to rescue the pair, and end Hezbollah rocket attacks. In the process

it has destroyed vital infrastructure including roads and bridges.

" Patients need to take uninterrupted multiple doses of these drugs, " al-Naqib

said. " If treatment is interrupted, then there is the short-term danger that

they may develop resistance to treatment. "

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) preliminary assessment, about 200

people on the government's treatment programme are finding it difficult to

obtain the antiretroviral drugs they need to remain healthy. There are 918

registered HIV-positive people in Lebanon, said Elie Aaraj, director of local

health NGO Nursing Care and Community Development.

The government's treatment programme involves a combination of three drugs, and

one of the three is in short supply, al-Naqib said. Without it, the

effectiveness of the treatment is compromised.

Further complicating the problem is that HIV/AIDS remains a largely taboo

subject in Lebanon. Unlike other chronic illnesses, HIV and AIDS carries huge

stigma and people living with the virus are reluctant to reveal their status.

" Patients who are displaced are unlikely to approach doctors unknown to them at

a temporary refuge to ask for antiretroviral drugs, " said al-Naqib.

Since at least some of the patients are likely to be among the 1 million

Lebanese refugees, they also are residing in temporary refuges such as schools

or public parks where sanitary conditions are often poor.

" The type of food, or the lack of it, exacerbates the problems of these

patients, " said Aaraj. Because of a weakened immune system, poor hygiene and

sanitation creates a heightened risk of illness.

SA/LS/ED/OA

[ENDS]

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August 11, 2006