[afro-nets] Nigeria: Harvards PEPFAR program dramatically behind schedule

[A. Odutola <chpss_abo2@yahoo.com>]

Nigeria: Harvards PEPFAR program dramatically behind schedule
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The Boston Herald on Tuesday (10/19)
(http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=49766)
reported that the HSPH is "dramatically behind schedule" in ad-
ministering its PEPFAR grant to help place 75,000 African HIV/
AIDS patients on antiretroviral drugs. The program currently is
providing medication to only 1,500 patients out of a first-year
treatment goal of 8,000 new patients in Nigeria. The school is
treating only 200 new patients in Tanzania out of a projected
first-year goal of 3,000 patients. The Herald also reported that
Harvard University President Lawrence Summers is "apoplectic"
about the program's shortfalls and that the shortfalls allegedly
have "raised questions about the program's leadership"

Harvard officials however say the program is no further behind
than any other relief program receiving government funding, the
Harvard Crimson reports
(http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=503947, 10/20).

The PEPFAR Aids program delivers brand name antiretroviral drugs
and runs parallel to the National drug treatment program which
delivers generic (WHO approved) antiretrovirals in Nigeria.


A. Odutola
mailto:chpss_abo2@yahoo.com