'Dawn of Hope' in Ethiopia

'Dawn of Hope' in Ethiopia (World Bank News)
June 12, 2007 - In 2000, while finishing a university degree in plant sciences and then working as an agronomist, Sileshi Betelei suffered two serious bouts of illness and found out he had HIV. Counseling helped him find the courage to tell his family, and they were very supportive. He believes their positive attitude stemmed from their understanding that anyone can get HIV.

He returned to work and continued to live a normal life, until 2001 when his CD4 (T-cell) count dropped to a dangerously low level, and he became extremely weak. Though Sileshi wanted to start on antiretroviral medications, he could not afford the drugs then available in Ethiopia. He refers to this period of his life as “the disaster time.”

A year later, Sileshi learned about Dawn of Hope – a local nongovernmental organization in Ethiopia that supports people infected and affected by HIV. He decided to join them, and work on the advocacy campaign to get public provision of free anti-retroviral treatment (ART). During this period he received drugs for opportunistic infections through Dawn of Hope – financed by the Ethiopia MAP. This enabled him to manage his health well enough to keep going, and to get married. His wife is also HIV-positive.

As an activist, Sileshi and others lobbied the government as well as officials from UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In 2004 Ethiopia’s ART program was launched, with money from the Global Fund.

After 18 months on treatment, Sileshi’s CD4 count improved and he felt strong enough to start a second university degree in management. Seeing a future for themselves, Sileshi and his wife began a family. Today, Sileshi is a leader in the Ethiopian AIDS community, representing people living with HIV on the National AIDS Council and the National AIDS Committee Management Board. He is also the proud father of an 18 month-old son, who is HIV-negative, thanks to treatment to prevent transmission from mother-to-child. While it is access to free antiretroviral drugs that is keeping him and his wife healthy today, Sileshi says that they and many other Ethiopians with the virus would not have survived if not for the free drugs to fight opportunistic infections, financed by the World Bank’s Multi-Sectoral AIDS Program.

“The MAP made a big difference in people’s lives,” Sileshi says. “Before treatment, people were dying of opportunistic infections. The MAP enabled us to arrive at the era of antiretroviral treatment.”. He also points out that counseling and home-based care provided through the MAP were essential. “Without counseling, there is no positive living, there is no hope.”

Cadila launches drug production

By Andualem Sisay
Capital

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - A new 100 mln birr medicine factory, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited, which is operating in 43 countries throughout the world, has begun production in Akaki-Kaliti sub city.

The factory is an Indo-Ethiopian joint venture with local company ALMETA Impex and Indian parent company Cadila Pharmaceuticals, with the expatriates holding the majority shares. According to Mr. Nalini Nayak, Marketing Manager of Cadila, the factory will be the first of its kind in East Africa, when it will soon be qualified by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).
Cadila India has recently qualified to the World health Organization (WHO) Good Management Practice (GMP). "Ethiopia has a very good potential market, which is not yet explored," said Mr.Nayak. Besides, we are happy to work in Ethiopia; where there is a strict drug regulation. It is difficult to find such an atmosphere in other African countries," he said.
Nearly 200 employees have begun operations at CADILA Pharmaceuticals. Anti biotics, anti-malarias, anti-acids, anti-fungal and multivitamins are the medicines that the company is currently producing. Anti-tuberculosis and anti-AIDS drugs are also being planed for production.
In addition to local demand, CADILA Pharmaceuticals will also export its products to neighboring markets such as Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Djibouti.
Sunshine, Addis, Bethlehem, Pharmacur and Epharm Pharmaceuticals are the existing factories engaged in medicine production. The opening of CADILA Pharmaceuticals will raise the number of medicine factories to six.