The ARV roll out in Zambia

On June 13, 2005 the Zambian government announced that ARV drugs would be made available free of charge through all public health institutions in the country.

ARVs, or antiretroviral drugs, are used to treat people living with HIV and AIDS.

The announcement that antiretroviral therapy, commonly referred to as ART, was free was an attempt to quickly give HIV positive Zambian people access to these life-saving and life-prolonging drugs.

When it announced that ARVs would be available for free the government said it had a "moral obligation" to abolish all cost barriers to accessing ARVs "because of the overwhelming poverty levels... and high cost for accessing ART".

But unfortunately the reality is that many Zambians still can not afford the treatment they need to live.

This is because while the drugs might be free, travelling to a clinic to be tested, getting drug supplies and having check ups all come at a cost. And often, this cost is beyond the ordinary Zambian who earns an average US$1 per day.

TALC is advocating for universal treatment, which means that all Zambians have affordable access to the drugs and other treatment they need, regardless of where they live or how much they earn.

TALC firmly believes that the life of every Zambia is equally important and it is the right of every Zambian to be able to access these essential drugs.