Tanzania is soon becoming one of the few developing countries in the world capable of producing life-prolonging anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) for its HIV/ AIDS patients, as the country has just launched its generic medicine TT-VIR.

The drug, to be manufactured by the Tanzania Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited based in Arusha of northern Tanzania, was the brainchild of a pharmaceutical consultant from Thailand, Dr. Krisana Kraisintu.

Trial production of the drug started in 2003 and once official production starts in Tanzania the generic drug will cost local HIV/ AIDS sufferers 10 US dollars less for their monthly dosage.

Imported ARVs cost over 30,000 Tanzanian shillings (about 30 dollars) whereas generic ARVs cost 20,000 shillings for a monthly dosage of two pills a day.

The drug has already been certified by the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority as "fit for human usage" and is credited for being high of quality standard.

With a population of 35 million, Tanzania had an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 7.8 percent among adults in 2001. The impact of HIV/AIDS pandemic on the socio-economic situation in the east African country has not only strained individual families but encroaching upon the governmental and budgetary resources as well.

Source: Xinhua