BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Nov. 7, 2019– Belize has been experiencing a chronic shortage of anti-retroviral medicine, the life-saving drug used by the HIV positive population. Belize purchases its anti-retroviral drug from India, but the drugs have been on order and is expected that a supply will be arriving in the country sometime in December.

Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero, updated the media yesterday on what the Ministry of Health has been doing to address the critical shortage, which could have a negative impact for persons living with the HIV virus.

Dr. Manzanero told the media that Belize has managed to borrow anti-retroviral medicine from Trinidad and Tobago.

“We have a loan that is coming from Trinidad and Tobago. I don’t know when the arrival date of that is going to be.” Dr. Manzanero disclosed.

Dr. Manzanero explained that the loan from Trinidad will be until the medication that Belize ordered from its supplier arrives in the country during the first week of December.

The Director of Health Services was asked what was his understanding in terms of the population who is affected with HIV and how they are managing with the shortage.

“Inconvenient, but what the rules will tell you is that if you have only 2 of the 3 medications, then you at least take that until the other medication comes along.”

Feature photo: Dr. Marvin Manzanero