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The health ministry and drug company Pfizer have agreed to extend the Diflucan Partnership Programme indefinitely, to benefit more people living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

The agreement yesterday marked the second anniversary of the programme the two entered into in December 2000, to provide Diflucan, an anti-fungal, in the public health sector free of charge.

The drug is used to treat two of the most common opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS - cryptococcal meningitis and oesophageal candidiasis, which affect the brain and the oesophagus respectively.

The former is a life-threatening infection of the brain, which affects one in ten AIDS patients, while the latter is a fungal infection of the oesophagus, which is reported in 20 to 40 percent of all patients living with the disease.

However, treatment with Diflucan has thus far brought relief to thousands of South Africans, who otherwise would not have had access to the medicine.

Health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said the programme had not only benefited South Africans but also resulted in 'excellent' additional training provided to doctors and nurses in terms of management and treatment of several opportunistic infections.

'The Diflucan Programme has grown and developed into a valuable programme,' she said.

Advisor to Dr Tshabalala-Msimang, Advocate Patricia Lambert, welcomed the extension, saying health professionals who were involved in the programme would also welcome it.

'The extension of the programme will be welcomed by all the healthcare professionals who are currently involved in it. Since its inception, they have worked with enthusiasm and dedication to make the programme the success that it is.

Pfizer President Mohand Sidi said the company had distributed 1.5-million free doses of the drug, processed 50 800 scripts and trained over 10 000 healthcare professionals on the programme, reaching 317 hospitals in the country.

Training formed part of the key component of the programme, providing vital skills transfer through training in the proper use of Diflucan and in overall best care practices for HIV/AIDS patients.

Pfizer said it had already extended the programme to other countries in Africa and further expansion was imminent. Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique are already benefiting, with over one million tablets already distributed.

Pfizer manager in South Africa John Kearney said today's agreement was testimony to the will and dedication of the participating governments concerned that the programme was launched in Africa.

Mr Kearney paid tribute to Dr Tshabalala-Msimang, saying she should take a bow, because it was through her support that many doors opened for Pfizer in Africa, 'allowing us to prepare for further African national launches in the first quarter of 2003.' - BuaNews

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