August 24, 2022

Owner of the longest standing CBI programme, St Kitts and Nevis, takes top spot at this year’s annual CBI Index

Basseterre, Aug. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis tops this year’s CBI Index rankings for offering one of the best citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes in the world.

St Kitts and Nevis was rated against 12 other countries with operational CBI programmes, which, in 2022, include Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Cambodia, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, St Lucia, Turkey and Vanuatu.

The CBI Index, published by PWM Magazine, a publication from the Financial Times in collaboration with CS Global Partners, is a rating system designed to measure the performance and appeal of global CBI programmes across a diverse range of indicators and its purpose is to provide a rigorous and systematic mechanism for appraising programmes in order to facilitate the decision-making process for individuals considering them, and to bring value to the CBI industry

The primary methodological objective of the CBI Index is to isolate pillars that measure CBI programme features and jurisdictional desirability. The nine pillars that constitute this year’s CBI Index include: Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and, Certainty of Product.

The country received full marks – 10 out of 10 in the Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family and Certainty of Product pillars.

The Mandatory Travel or Residence pillar examines the travel or residence conditions imposed on applicants both before and after the granting of citizenship.

St Kitts and Nevis, along with the rest of the Caribbean countries, does not have any travel or residency requirements for CBI applicants. This makes it easy for busy entrepreneurs to continue running their businesses and still be eligible to get their second citizenship while not having to fulfil any minimum stay requirements.

St Kitts and Nevis scored top marks for the Citizenship Timeline pillar – which looks at the average time taken for citizenship to be secured by the applicant – due to the Accelerated Application Process where for an additional fee, an applicant can obtain their citizenship within a maximum of 60 days instead of the standard processing time of approximately three months.

Ease of Processing measures the end-to-end complexity of the CBI application process. St Kitts and Nevis makes the process of obtaining citizenship easy and straightforward, the country has an official government website and a dedicated CBI unit. It has also done away with burdensome application requirements such as interviews, language, culture or history tests, proof of minimum business experience and evidence of the purchase of tangible or intangible assets.

The overall effortlessness of the application process is a particularly important component, and the promise of a smooth, hassle-free process can generate readiness to engage with a programme.

One of the areas where Caribbean nations really differentiate their programmes, is the area of due diligence. St Kitts and Nevis’ due diligence process is multi-faceted and is undertaken by the country’s CBI unit, law enforcement and external third-party due-diligence agencies from the UK and USA. This ensures that the process is stringent and comprehensive, applicants are required to provide either fingerprints or a biometric passport, police certificates from both an applicant’s country of residence as well as their country of citizenship and comprehensive supporting information in respect of an applicant’s source of funds.

The CBI Index recognises that the rise of increasingly complex family relationships is driving investors to seek programmes that allow for a more diverse range of family members to be included under a primary application. St Kitts and Nevis retains a perfect score for their family friendliness as, in addition to a main applicant, they allow the applicant’s spouse, children under 18 and over 18 in certain circumstances, siblings, parents and grandparents of both the main applicant or their spouse to be included in an application.

St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI programme is one of the oldest in the industry, having been established in 1984, it assures investors of a certainty of product. The CBI Index measures certainty across five different dimensions: longevity, popularity and renown, stability, reputation, and adaptability – aspects which St Kitts and Nevis’ programme can tick off confidently.

In the 2022 CBI Index, the Freedom of Movement pillar measures the relative strength of each country’s citizenship based on three equally weighted factors: the number of destinations to which a country’s passport allows travel without restriction, the number of prime business hubs to which it provides access, and the degree to which a given citizenship provides settlement rights in other nations. St Kitts and Nevis scored a seven out of 10 in this area as it offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 countries.

The Minimum Investment Outlay pillar measures one of the most practical and foremost considerations of CBI: how much capital is required for the investor to become an eligible applicant for the programme of their choosing.

St Kitts and Nevis offers one of the most affordable routes to alternative citizenship, and even though it ended its limited time offer of US$150,000 for a family of four at the end of December 2021, it did not impact its score, five out of 10, as the scores are based on minimum investments for a single applicant.

The St Kitts and Nevis CBI programme is a family-friendly route for those looking for a reputable and trusted programme that prioritises both applicants and its citizens – the stringent due diligence process upon application ensures that only honest hard-working families are approved. The citizenship can also be passed down to future generations, giving investors who want to leave a legacy, peace of mind.

Download the full CBI Index here, to get further insights into the CBI industry and a full evaluation of the CBI programmes of the 12 other jurisdictions in the rankings.

Attachment

St Kitts and Nevis Infographic

St Kitts and Nevis PR
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
+27828215664
nandi.canning@csglobalpartners.com

August 24, 2022

TCM Lianhua Qingwen Launched in Liberia

SHIJIAZHUANG, China, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Last week, the Launching Ceremony of Lianhua Qingwen Capsules in Liberia was held in the Chinese Embassy to Liberia. The Chinese ambassador Ren Yisheng, Liberian Minister of Health Wilhemina Jallah, Defense Minister D. D. Ziankahn, Minister of State without Portfolio Trokon Kpui, senior Liberian and Chinese officials attended the event.

Ren Yisheng said that TCM is an original medical system that has been gradually formed and continuously enriched and developed by the Chinese nation in the thousands of years of production and daily life practice and the struggle against diseases, “More and more countries in the world and more and more people opt for, use and learn Chinese medicine”.

Ren congratulated the official launching of Lianhua Qingwen Capsules in Liberia, and introduced that in recent years, China’s “Belt and Road” initiative has been effectively aligned with Liberia’s “Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development”.

He emphasized that China will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Liberia in the fields of medical care and public health, actively explore cooperation in traditional medicine including herbal medicine and acupuncture, and vigorously carry out capacity building such as training, so as to contribute to strengthening Liberia’s response to the epidemic and health challenges, improving the people’s health and well-being.

Jallah expressed her appreciation to China’s long-term support for Liberia in the medical field and extended her congratulations to the launching of Lianhua Qingwen. “Today we are also celebrating the launching of a new medicine in Liberia……I want to say thank you for this official launching of this medicine is coming at a good time, because people are coughing, sneezing all the time and they have something to drink as a medicine to make them feel better”, Jallah said.

Kpui also delivered his congratulations. “I would like, on behalf of His Excellency, George Manneh Weah, the President of the Republic of Liberia, my colleagues here and the people of Liberia, to thank you and with open arms we are welcoming the new capsules to help us mitigate the challenges, the treatment for patients”, he told.

According to information available, Lianhua Qingwen has been approved in nearly 30 countries and regions including Canada, Kuwait, Thailand, and 8 African countries including Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya.

August 24, 2022

Hantec Markets signs sponsorship agreement with Haas F1 Team through 2023 F1 season

STAVELOT, Belgium, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Hantec Markets has announced a new partnership to be the official online trading partner with Haas F1 Team before this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Hantec Markets operates a trading platform for CFDs, including margin trading across forex, bullion, indices, commodities and stocks. The multi-million pound contract runs through the 2023 F1 season.

Haas F1 Team currently holds seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship with 34 points.

Hantec Markets’ brand logo will adorn the Haas race car on the nose of the car, and include full branding in the Haas team garage. The Hantec logo will also be featured on the uniforms of Haas drivers Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen.

Earlier this month, Hantec Markets unveiled a global rebrand campaign that included a new website (https://hmarkets.com/) and a renewed growth strategy to direct the next phase of its dynamic development. The Hantec team has introduced the #TimeToStrike hashtag to signify this time of growth at Hantec Markets.

“We’re delighted to welcome Hantec Markets and we look forward to a productive working partnership for the rest of the 2022 F1 season and beyond,” said Guenther Steiner, Haas’ team principal. “Hantec Markets provides innovation for people in emerging economic markets so that they are able to unlock their full financial potential. It’s similar to the type of collaboration that goes on in our garage. We want to provide our drivers with that type of innovation so that they can unlock the fastest car on the track.”

“Hantec Markets and Haas are both global brands that strive for speed and perfection in some of the most competitive environments,” said Nader Nurmohamed, Chief Operating Officer of Hantec Markets. “The integrity, passion and family feel of the Haas F1 Team has been the driving force behind their achievement and future goals. Hantec Markets shares this ethos and has embroidered the same in tailoring our services to our client’s needs. We strive to provide an unrivaled trading experience to our customers, with the same attention to detail and service that Guenther, and Haas brings to each race.”

About Hantec Markets
Hantec Markets offers leveraged trading on global currencies, bullion, equities and commodities, through the multi-asset MT4 and MT5 platforms. The firm’s 32 years of experience and unmatched expertise enables it to provide deep liquidity, bespoke client commission structures, customizable trading conditions and forward-thinking, adaptive innovation in an ever-changing marketplace. Hantec Markets is a subsidiary of the award-winning Hantec Group, and provides services across five different continents in seven jurisdictions. Regulated in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Jordan and Mauritius and winner of the 2021 Global Forex Award for Most Transparent Forex Broker, it is Hantec’s mission to empower financial freedom, be a partner that clients can trust and create unparalleled opportunities to audiences across the world.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1884036/Haas_F1_Team_car_with_Hantec_Markets.jpg

August 24, 2022

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group Wins Multiple Hydrogen Fueling Station Contracts in California and South Korea

TEMECULA, Calif., Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group (“CE&IG”), a part of the Nikkiso Co., Ltd (Japan) group of companies, is proud to be the recipient of multiple contracts to provide over a dozen Hydrogen Fueling Stations (“HFS”) to customers in California and South Korea. These stations, intended to be operational between Q4 2023 and Q2 2024, cover fueling stations for light-duty, heavy-duty, and transit fuel cell vehicles that need H35 and H70 dispensing.

“As an ambassador member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (“CaFCP”) and core leader of cryogenic technology, Nikkiso is key in connecting the hydrogen ecosystem to advance the clean energy agenda,” said Peter Wagner, CEO of Nikkiso CE&IG.

“We are pleased to offer flexible and scalable commercial and technical offers where our customers need us the most: from equipment fabricator to turnkey EPC solutions,” said Joseph Pak, President of the Nikkiso Integrated Cryogenic Solutions.

The purchase orders have a combined value of almost US$60 million. Nikkiso has dedicated over 150,000 ft2 (14,000 m2) square feet of floor space to mass produce hydrogen fueling stations in Murrieta, CA, Escondido, CA, Busan, S. Korea, and Neuenbürg, Germany. Every station will be manufactured to comply with the local content requirements, including the Buy America Act for the US Hydrogen Hub market.

Starting with these hydrogen station projects, the Nikkiso Group aims to further expand their hydrogen-related business by strengthening their participation in the hydrogen supply chain and expanding into the global market.

About Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group
Nikkiso’s CE&IG is part of the Nikkiso Co., Ltd group of companies. Nikkiso Co. is a $1.4B public company. CE&IG comprises five distinct functional units: Cryogenic Pumps (ACD, Nikkiso Cryo), Process Systems (Cosmodyne), Heat Exchanger Systems (Cryoquip), Cryogenic Services (through 20 global facilities) and Integrated Cryogenic Solutions (providing centralized management of products and project development). In 2020, CE&IG expanded its capabilities further with the acquisition of what was GP- Strategies’ Alternative Fuels Division. This addition provides yet another major manufacturing facility in Southern California. Acknowledged as a market leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing, construction and maintenance of Cryogenic infrastructure, this facility offers full in-house capabilities from engineering & permitting through manufacturing, construction, and maintenance.

For over 50 years, Nikkiso has been a leader in the Clean Energy industry and are leading the change to a healthier world. With our hydrogen fueling technology, Nikkiso has become a leader in the evolving hydrogen revolution, including a project on the world’s first LH2 bunkering facility. For more information visit www.NikkisoCEIG.com.

For more information, please visit www.nikkisoCEIG.com and www.nikkiso.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Anna Quigley
+1.951.383.3314
aquigley@cryoind.com

August 24, 2022

Le Rwanda accueille la 11e édition du Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF)

Cet événement annuel sert de plateforme pour l’expansion et le développement de l’internet en Afrique

KIGALI, Rwanda, 23 août 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Le Rwanda accueille pour la première fois cette année le Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF) à Kigali. Le forum est organisé par l’Internet Society (ISOC) et l’Association africaine des IXP (AFIX) en collaboration avec la Rwanda Internet Community and Technology Alliance (RICTA). L’événement, qui se déroule du 23 au 25 août à l’hôtel Marriott, a réuni des parties prenantes de tout le continent et du monde entier, notamment Meta, Google, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Microsoft, Internet Initiative Japan Lab et Africa Data Centers, etc.

Cet événement annuel, qui en est à sa 11^e édition, sert de plateforme pour l’expansion et le développement de l’internet en Afrique. Il met en relation les fournisseurs d’infrastructures, de services et de contenus afin d’identifier les moyens d’améliorer l’interconnexion des réseaux, de réduire le coût de la connectivité et d’accroître la résilience de l’internet et l’expérience des utilisateurs locaux. Il fournit également aux participants des informations mondiales et régionales pour maximiser les opportunités qui aideront à développer l’infrastructure et les services Internet en Afrique.

L’AfPIF a été créé pour remédier au fait que la majeure partie du trafic Internet local en Afrique est échangée en dehors du continent. L’échange de trafic local par le biais de points d’échange Internet (IXP) réduit les coûts d’accès à l’Internet et les retards sur le réseau et augmente les vitesses d’accès au contenu.

Les points d’échange Internet sont des infrastructures techniques qui permettent de vivre une expérience Internet plus rapide, moins coûteuse et plus fiable en connectant plusieurs réseaux des secteurs privé, public et éducatif pour échanger du trafic Internet. Au lieu d’utiliser des voies de transit internationales coûteuses, le trafic internet est échangé localement et les vitesses d’accès au contenu peuvent ainsi être multipliées par dix.

L’AfPIF de cette année se concentre sur les dynamiques de l’interconnexion d’Internet, la diffusion de contenus et les obstacles au transit tant au niveau local qu’au niveau régional. Le forum de Kigali marque un retour aux rencontres en présentiel, qui avaient été reportées depuis 2020 du fait de la pandémie mondiale de COVID-19.

Citations :

Le secrétaire permanent du ministère des TIC et de l’Innovation du Rwanda, M. Yves Iradukunda a déclaré : « L’accès à l’Internet à haut débit et son utilisation ont un impact profond sur l’amélioration de la prestation de services dans tous les secteurs de notre économie. Aujourd’hui, l’utilisation d’Internet permet d’obtenir de meilleurs résultats en matière d’apprentissage, de soins de santé, de gestion de nos ressources énergétiques et de participation des citoyens à l’action gouvernementale.

Nous sommes donc très heureux d’accueillir cette année le Forum africain sur le peering et l’interconnexion, une rencontre qui permettra de discuter de l’amélioration de l’interconnexion des réseaux au niveau local et dans la région. »

Michuki Mwangi, technologue émérite chez Internet Society a déclaré : « Nous avons fait des progrès remarquables dans la mise en place de nouveaux points d’échange Internet (IXP) tout en soutenant la croissance des points existants. Cependant, nous n’avons pas encore réalisé pleinement l’impact de l’échange du trafic Internet aux 49 IXP répartis dans 35 pays d’Afrique. Pour y parvenir, nous tirons les leçons du rapport intitulé « Moving Toward an Interconnected Africa: The 80/20 Initiative » et mettons l’accent sur l’augmentation du nombre de réseaux locaux, transfrontaliers et internationaux qui se connectent aux IXP. Nous pensons que cela est possible grâce à une collaboration accrue entre les fournisseurs de services Internet, les opérateurs de réseaux mobiles, les fournisseurs de contenu, les réseaux de grandes entreprises et les décideurs.https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2021/moving-toward-an-interconnected-africa-the-80-20-initiative/ »

Grace Ingabire Mwikarago, directrice générale de la RICTA, a déclaré : « Nous sommes honorés d’accueillir cette conférence unique. L’importance des IXP pour contribuer au développement socio-économique global de l’Afrique ne peut être surestimée, en particulier dans des situations critiques telles que la pandémie de COVID-19. Les IXP permettent l’apprentissage en ligne et le travail à distance dans de telles circonstances. Le courrier électronique, la vidéoconférence, la communication mobile et la messagerie rendent également l’éloignement social plus supportable, dans la mesure où ils aident les gens à s’adapter à la nouvelle donne. Sans ces technologies, des milliers d’entreprises ne seraient pas opérationnelles. »

Kyle Spencer, co-coordinateur de l’Association africaine des IXP, a déclaré : « Le Rwanda est un petit pays enclavé qui a favorisé son développement économique et son indépendance régionale grâce à la combinaison d’une politique de télécommunications progressive et d’un climat des affaires favorable aux investissements. En tant que passerelle clé entre l’Afrique de l’Est et l’Afrique centrale, le Rwanda est un lieu idéal pour discuter des défis et des opportunités que présente notre région. »

Ben Roberts, directeur de la technologie et de l’innovation chez Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a déclaré : « Le peering et les échanges Internet et d’infrastructures numériques sont au cœur de la transformation numérique accélérée observée en Afrique. Il est donc essentiel que les membres de la communauté Internet se retrouvent en présentiel pour évaluer les progrès réalisés et le chemin qui reste à parcourir. Liquid Intelligent Technologies est un acteur majeur de l’industrie des TMT, et est fière d’être le sponsor platine de l’AfPIF 2022. »

À propos de l’Internet Society

Fondée par des pionniers de l’Internet, l’Internet Society est une organisation à but non lucratif dont la mission est de garantir un développement, une évolution et une utilisation ouverts de l’Internet. Travaillant par le biais d’une communauté mondiale de chapitres et de membres, l’Internet Society collabore avec un large éventail de groupes pour promouvoir les technologies qui garantissent la sécurité de l’Internet et plaide en faveur de la mise en place de politiques qui permettent un accès universel. L’Internet Society est également le siège organisationnel de l’Internet Engineering Task Force.

À propos de l’AF-IX

L’Association africaine des IXP est un groupe d’opérateurs de points d’échange Internet (IXP) issus de toute l’Afrique, unis par un besoin commun de coordination et d’échange de connaissances. L’Association vise à créer un environnement favorable pour les opérateurs IXP, à améliorer la connectivité sur le continent et à accroître la valeur de l’Internet pour tous. Fondée en 2012, l’AFIX a rejoint la Fédération Internet eXchange (IX-F) en 2014 et organise désormais le forum annuel africain du peering et l’interconnexion (AfPIF).

À propos de la RICTA

La RICTA est une organisation à but non lucratif qui représente les intérêts de la communauté Internet rwandaise. Elle a été créée en 2005 dans le but de gérer le domaine national de premier niveau .rw et le point d’échange Internet du Rwanda, ainsi que de promouvoir la localisation du contenu local. La position impartiale de RICTA lui permet d’améliorer et de promouvoir l’utilisation de l’Internet au Rwanda.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656167/Internet_Society.jpg

August 24, 2022

Ebola Vaccinations in East Congo to Start on Thursday After New Case

An Ebola vaccination campaign will start in the Congolose city of Beni on Thursday after a new case of the virus was confirmed this week, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.

More than 200 vaccine doses have been arrived in Beni, in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo, it said.

The latest confirmed case has been genetically linked to a 2018-2020 outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, which claimed nearly 2,300 lives.

Six people were killed in another flare-up from that same outbreak last year.

A WHO spokesman told Reuters the shots were provided by the organization and that inoculations would start on Thursday.

Congo’s dense tropical forests are a natural reservoir for the Ebola virus, which causes fever, body aches, and diarrhea, and can linger in the body of survivors only to resurface years later.

The vast central African country has recorded 14 outbreaks since 1976. The 2018-2020 outbreak in the east was Congo’s largest and the second largest ever recorded, with nearly 3,500 total cases.

Congo’s most recent outbreak was in northwest Equateur province. Itwas declared over in July after five deaths.

Source: Voice of America

August 24, 2022

Patients in India Protest Shortage of Life-Saving HIV Drugs

A group of HIV-positive people has been protesting for more than a month at the central office of India’s National AIDS Control Organization, or NACO, in New Delhi, demanding a regular supply of life-saving antiretroviral therapy — also known as ART — drugs across the country.

NACO is the nodal organization of the government of India that manages programs for the prevention and control of HIV and AIDS in the country. ART drugs work by stopping the virus from replicating in HIV-infected people, helping them live longer and reducing or stopping the infection of the virus to others.

Centers that supply ART drugs across India have been out of stock on several antiretroviral drugs for months, threatening the lives and well-being of hundreds of thousands of HIV patients, according to leaders of the group that has been protesting in Delhi since July 21.

“I have been getting distress calls from hundreds of HIV-infected persons from different states of the country reporting the shortage in supply of the ART drugs from the ART centers across the country,” Hari Shankar, a leader of the ongoing Delhi protest, told VOA.

“The crisis has been acute since April. Most of them cannot afford to buy the drugs from the market privately,” Shankar added. “We will not withdraw from this protest until they, all across the country, start receiving the ART drugs supply regularly.”

According to a government estimate, India has 2.3 million people living with HIV. In 2004, the government began providing free ART to the people living with HIV in the country. Now around 1.5 million HIV patients are dependent on the ART provided by the government.

NACO procures ART drugs and distributes them through more than 675 ART centers spread across the country. People undergoing ART visit the centers every one, two or three months to collect their drugs. But since April, the supply of the drugs has been irregular in many parts of the country, many people said.

“Earlier, we regularly used to get the stock of the drugs for one to three months. Now we get the drugs just for three or five days. The ART centers even in some big hospitals in New Delhi are turning us away because of the shortage of the drugs,” said Shankar, a member of the Delhi Network of Positive People or DNP Plus, which works to facilitate better medical treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS in New Delhi.

The Delhi protest demanding a regular supply of ART drugs across the country is organized by DNP Plus.

Nisha Jha, another DNP Plus member, said that many people across the country are reporting a shortage of Dolutegravir (DTG) 50 mg, a key ART drug, from the ART centers.

“Those HIV patients who have been on the first line, second line, or third line ART for years, and are also infected with tuberculosis, need to take DTG 50 separately,” Jha told VOA.

“Because of the crisis of DTG, lives of thousands of our PLHIV brothers and sisters are in jeopardy now.”

There is a crisis of drugs like Nevirapine, Ritonavir, Lopinavir, Abacavir, and Zidovudine — which are used in different ART regimens for HIV ¬patients — at ART centers across the country, Jha added.

The ART centers are asking patients to change their drug regimens because of the shortages of some drugs, many people said.

Surmick Waribam, a leader of HIV patients group Manipur Network of Positive People, or MNP Plus, in the northeastern state of Manipur, said the normal protocol calls for HIV patients to undergo certain medical tests before their ART regimens are changed.

“The ART centers are asking HIV patients to change the regimens without conducting any such medical tests. The patients are scared to change the regimen, fearing adverse impacts on their health. Being very poor, most of them cannot afford to buy the drugs from the market. So, they are left with no option but to change the regimen,” Waribam told VOA.

In response to a query from VOA, Dr. Manisha Verma, a spokesperson for the Indian health ministry, said in an emailed statement that there is “adequate stock for around 95% [of HIV patients] in India.”

“There is no stock-out of drugs and there are no instances of disruptions or non-availability of treatment services or ARV medicines at the national and state levels,” Verma said.

Dr. Mothi SN, an HIV and AIDS specialist, said that since the global roll-out of ARV medicines began in 2004, the HIV/AIDS scenario changed from being a “rapidly progressing fatal illness” to that of “a chronic manageable illness like diabetes or hypertension with a near-normal life expectancy.”

“Regular intake of ARV medicines and prompt adherence to treatment are resulting in added years of life. People with HIV may survive the infection and finally die of other age-related diseases like stroke, heart disease, cancer, etc.,” Mysore-based Mothi told VOA.

“To achieve the optimum outcome, prompt adherence to uninterrupted ARV therapy becomes the cornerstone of management of people living with AIDS.”

Waribam from Manipur said the shortage in supply of his regular ARV drugs forced him to switch to a new regimen of drugs.

“For my ARV drugs, I am dependent solely on the ART center. So, in June, like most of around 14,000 [people living with HIV] in Manipur, I agreed to switch to the new drugs the ART center offered. Even then, the ART centers are giving us drugs for three, five or 10 days,” Waribam said.

“Like thousands of others, I am also anxious and in doubt, if the new drugs would succeed to keep my viral load under check and not cause any damage to my health. …The authorities are playing with the lives of the PLHIV.”

Source: Voice of America