Malawi: HIV drugs used to ferment local gin

  1. Posted on Thursday 12 November 2009 - 08:15
    madalitso
    Image of madalitso
    Madalitso Kateta, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
    The free anti-retroviral drugs being provided by the Malawian government are being used to ferment maize husks in the brewing process of a traditional gin - Kachasu. Zione Enock a Kachasu, a brewer from Thyolo revealed the ARVs are not only for brewing of the traditional gin but to feed their poultry too.
    antiretroviral drug
    Some brewers told AfricaNews the gin from the fermented ARV maize husk is very strong and matures quickly. Government officials have warned action would be taken against those involved especially in the southern region district of Thyolo.

    An Africa news investigation in the commercial city of Blantyre indicated that a bottle of free ARV was going at US$1.43 (K200.00) while a 60 tablet bottle of co-trimoxazole that is administered with ARV was selling at US$0.43 (K60.00).

    The Principal Secretary for Nutrition and HIV/AIDS in the Malawi office of the president and Cabinet, Dr Mary Shawa said the new developments were very worrisome as they could create a resistant form of virus.

    “It is very unfortunate that the drugs are going into wrong hands and being used in very bad ways,” said Shawa.

    The Malawian president Bingu Wa Mutharika warned that his government will deal with anyone found culpable.

Latest News

  1. AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02Following a deadlock during Monday's African Union elections, with a tie between former wife to South African president Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs …
  2. Senegal in turmoil as protest intensifies01/02Hundreds of anti-government protesters Tuesday gathered in the central Dakar, Senegal to show their dissatisfaction over the incumbent president Abdou…
  3. Zimbabwe’s inflation still favourable -…01/02Zimbabwe's annual headline inflation still compared favourably with economies in the region, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono said o…
  4. Senegalese opposition to intensify protests31/01Opposition and civil society groups in Senegal have vowed to increase their fight against incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade's presidential bid.
  5. Malawi: Rights coalition condemn stripping of…30/01The 39 members of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Coalition based in 18 African countries have vehemently condemned the stripping of wo…
  6. Kenya to deworm five million children annually30/01Kenya launched the second phase of its national deworming programme at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012, aiming to treat 5 million childre…
  7. Benin’s Yayi Boni is AU’s new…30/01President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic has been elected chairperson of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa
  8. Clashes in Senegal as Wade seek third term30/01Clashes have erupted in Senegal's capital Dakar and several other city cities ; after the Constitutional Council said President Abdoulaye Wade co…
  9. Africa Union’s top posts tightly…27/01All eyes are on the 18th African Union (AU) Summit that is currently underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia until the 30th of January 2012.
  10. Gambia's leader pulls out of AU presidenc…27/01Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has pulled out of the race for the presidency of the African Union's Assembly.
  11. NIGERIA: Chadians among Kano attackers26/01Nigerian police said people speaking a Chadian language were among the attackers who waged bombing and shooting sprees in Kano last Friday, killing a …
  12. Kenya’s finance minister resigns26/01Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta has resigned on Thursday together with the Secretary to the Cabinet and head of t…
  13. Malawi losing $28m in fisheries resources26/01Malawi is losing $28 million (about MK4.6 billion) worth of fisheries resources each year due to unsustainable fishing in natural bodies.
  14. Nigeria’s president appoints new police…26/01Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan has appointed the assistant inspector general of police Mohammed Dikko Abubakar as acting inspector general…
  15. UN Envoy relocates to Somalia after 17yrs25/01The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Ambassador Augustine P. Mahiga has moved the office of the SRSG back to Mogadi…
News archive