Collaboration with Brazil expands Burkina Faso’s access to anti-retroviral treatment
27 May 2005
A new partnership between the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the Alliance’s linking organisation in Burkina Faso, Association Africain Solidarité (AAS), is to provide generic anti-retroviral treatment for 200 people in Burkina Faso, as well as training in drug procurement, supply and management.
Brazil has a wealth of experience in adopting a comprehensive public health approach to anti-retroviral treatment delivery, and has been innovative and determined in facing the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The current collaboration was made possible in 2002 when the Brazilian Ministry of health initiated COOPEX, a programme aiming to increase access to treatment in developing countries, particularly low resource settings. AAS submitted a proposal which included building the capacity of health professionals in Burkina Faso and importing anti-retroviral drugs tax free with little bureaucracy. This was agreed in 2004.
Since then the process has run smoothly, with an agreement signed between the Brazilian and Burkinabé governments to import anti-retroviral treatment for 100 people living with HIV/AIDS in the first quarter of 2005. Just recently, the agreement has been extended to double the number of people receiving Brazilian produced generic treatment to 200.
- About the Alliance linking organisation Association Africain Solidarité
Community members living with HIV/AIDS set up Association Africain Solidarité (AAS) ten years ago and it is now a linking organisation for the Alliance in Burkina Faso. ‘Projet Orange’ – an anti-retroviral treatment programme – was set up three years ago by AAS, at a time when very little anti-retroviral treatment was available in Burkina Faso, as a pilot to show that communities can support and provide anti-retroviral treatment, and to advocate for more treatment.
In the last three years, with Alliance support, AAS has been helping communities provide anti-retroviral treatment to those who need it, as part of a comprehensive package of services including HIV prevention, care and support. Approximately 10% of the 2,000 people on treatment in Burkina Faso receive their treatment and other services from AAS at its Centre Oasis.
When ‘Project Orange’ started, there were concerns that a community organisation could not provide a comprehensive programme of HIV prevention, care, treatment and support. There were also concerns about sustainability and integration with the national response in Burkina. However, ‘Projet Orange’ has proved an excellent example of the importance of communities to the success of anti-retroviral treatment programming. AAS is also an inspiration to other Alliance partners, sharing technical expertise based on their experiences.
