NEW HIV DRUG LAUNCHED

A new HIV drug has been launched in Zambia. Tenofovir Alafenamaide (TAF) suppresses the viral load within 10 to 14 days and it can also be given to children of 25 kilogrammes and above, as a single tablet daily.

Minister of health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya says the new drug is more effective and has less side effects.

He says the introduction of TAF which is being produced locally by Mylan Laboratories, will contribute to the good health of people.

And Mylan Laboratories Limited representative Emmanuel Patras says it is gratifying to be producing a drug that will help attain the 90 90 90 agenda.

The 90–90–90 agenda aims to diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive persons, provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 90% of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated by 2020.

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