HARARE - HIV and Aids activists have blamed the ministry of Health for challenges perennially faced by people on life-prolonging anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs.

People on ARVs have repeatedly complained that shortages of drugs in public hospitals have constantly forced them to purchase expensive drugs from private providers.

Zimbabwe HIV and Aids Activists Union (Zhaau) president Bernard Nyathi yesterday said the problem lay with the Health ministry’s logistics department.

“The problem is with people responsible for logistics at the ministry. There is mismanagement. I think it is because these people do not have an appreciation of how important the drugs are to the well-being of People Living with HIV/Aids (PLWAs),” said Nyathi.

He was speaking at the handover ceremony of three industrial grinding mills to his organisation by the Chinese Embassy.

Nyathi commended the Chinese government for extending the grinding mills saying this would go a long way in improving the livelihoods of PLWAs.

The Chinese government has over the years contributed to the fight against HIV/Aids.

Chinese ambassador Lin Lin said: “The donation is another step further of our cooperation of curbing the disease.”

Zimbabwe, through the Chinese embassy, this year received 10 batches of aid material constituting of 15 000 tonnes of food aid, 85 cars and buses, agricultural machinery, medical equipment and will soon receive fertilisers, Lin said. - Wendy Muperi