Antiretroviral drugs may be used as a supposed “vitamin” in chicken production in Tete province. This is the conclusion of a study by the organisation Galamukani, which investigated the diversion of medicines from the National Health System. According to the study, among the various medicines illegally diverted from health units and warehouses are antiretroviral drugs, used in the treatment of HIV infection, but which appear to be used in poultry farming.
“This information was passed on to us by our key informants in the health sector. We followed up and confirmed that such schemes exist. Healthcare professionals remove the antiretrovirals and sell them to chicken producers,” explains Isaías dos Anjos, who led the Galamukani research.
The researcher adds that the medicines are allegedly used as a “vitamin” to accelerate the growth of chickens. In response to DW, Xarifo Gentivo, director of the Provincial Health Service in Tete, said he was unaware of the content of the study but promised to investigate the case. “We were indeed surprised by the information, but we will look into this with the researcher, as well as the allegation involving healthcare professionals,” Gentivo said.
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The official acknowledged that there is a chronic problem of hospital medicine diversion that must be tackled. He further stated that, if it is true that antiretrovirals are being used in chicken production, the province faces a serious public health problem. “We are talking about medicines intended for a specific purpose being used for other purposes.
This will always be a health issue,” he commented. Contacted by DW, the livestock department of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries in Tete promised to comment this Thursday on the allegation made by Galamukani. During a recent visit to Tete, Health Minister Ussene Isse announced that 20 health sector employees had been dismissed due to their involvement in theft and diversion of medicines. The minister said it was time to put an end to these practices within the National Health System: “There will be no leniency,” emphasised Ussene Isse.
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