Uganda in African first for HIV/AIDS drug for children

Uganda has become the first country in Africa to place a waiver order for a drug targeted towards fighting HIV/AIDS in children.

The pediatric Aluvia tablet is popular with developing countries due to it being possible to store it without refrigeration and take it without food, AllAfrica.com reported.

However, the country's HIV/AIDS research council warned that the medication would only be successful in helping to fight the onset of the disease if users kept to their planned treatment programmes.

"Part of the reason why resistance develops is because of poor adherence and inappropriate drug application," Professor Peter Mugyenyi, director of the Joint Clinical Research Centre, told the website.

"Pediatric Alluvia will not solve all the problems with HIV/AIDS - it is important that the users follow good compliance," he added.

According to figures published by the World Health Organization, in 2005 there were an estimated one million Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS, with the disease causing 91,000 deaths annually.

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