Ethiopia: Free HIV drugs distribution to be undertaken by government

Ethiopia is to begin free distribution of potentially lifesaving drugs next month for people living with HIV, US officials supporting the programme said last Thursday. The move is part of a US $43 million scheme from the US government of antiretroviral drugs for up to 15,000 people this year. "You can consider this the start of the treatment era, in which free treatment will be made available in increasing numbers over the years," Taddesse Wahub, head of the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in Ethiopia, said.