There is a possibility of the country putting more than 10 000 people on treatment before the end of the year, if it can overcome the scarcity of health experts, United Nations General Secretary's Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, Mr. Stephen Lewis, has said. 

Speaking at the end of his three day visit to the country on August 19, Mr. Lewis said the scarcity of experts hinders the distribution of drugs. This problem however was one that affected almost all governments, he said. 

Mr. Lewis said he had visited several antiretroviral drugs distribution points in the country and had found impressive work being done at the centres. Tremendous progress has been made, he said. 

Zambia is a bit ahead of the other countries in the Southern African region because it started the fight earlier than the others did and recently announced that the AIDS drugs were going to be distributed for free. 

He hoped that with approval of generic drugs manufacture in the US, HIV/AIDS treatment will become even cheaper and affordable.

22 August 2005