[afro-nets] Role of African pharmacists in the control of AIDS epidemic

[Boubou Coulibaly <boubou@afribone.net.ml>]

Role of African pharmacists in the control of AIDS epidemic
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Dear Afro-Netters

In 2003, the HIV/AIDS epidemic were estimated to 37,8 millions
infected adults and children throughout the world. The people
living with the HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa were roughly es-
timated to 70% of the cases. AIDS epidemic is a concern in every
country and for every health care professional. Researches to
get an effective vaccine are in a hopeful way but such a vaccine
is not available yet. So, all the actors implicated are focusing
their efforts on stopping the transmission of the virus.

I'm a pharmacist. In many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, phar-
macists are professionals who work (sometimes very hard), but in
the shade of other health care professionals. In Mali we say:
they sweat in the rain.

I'd like to put under discussion the following topic. What could
be the role of African pharmacists in addition to those of other
health professionals:
1. In the prevention of HIV transmission?
2. In the improvement of the quality and the observance of AIDS
treatment?

I wish a large contribution of Afro-Netters.

Sincerely,

Dr Boubou Coulibaly
Pharmacien, DU Epidémiologie ISPED Bordeaux
BP. 7087, Bamako, Mali
Tel.: +223-220-48-14
mailto:boubou@afribone.net.ml