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Sunday Morning News

AIDS Epidemic Plagues Africa

Aired March 18, 2001 - 9:39 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, we continue to take an in-depth look at the startling statistics on the AIDS epidemic and the newest information with regard to AIDS drugs and treatments. Figures show that more than 35 million in the world have the disease. Nearly 25 million of those live on the African continent, mostly in sub- Saharan regions.

It's not surprising that 85 percent of AIDS deaths are Africa. Making the statistics more grim, they leave 12 million African children orphaned every year and will orphan 40 million children in Africa by 2010.

Joining me out at -- from Washington to talk more about the drug breakthrough is Debrework Zewdie of the World Bank. Good morning, Debrework.

DEBREWORK ZEWDIE, WORLD BANK: Good morning.

PHILLIPS: Let's begin with these two drug companies, Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Is this the first time that these companies have decided to cut prices?

ZEWDIE: No, this is not the first time. About a year ago, these and other three companies came together with UN agencies, including the World Bank, to discuss the gravity of the problems especially in developing countries and the access issue. So this is not the first time. This is one of the major cuts that we have seen far.

PHILLIPS: What do you think prompted this? Is it compassion? Is it media pressure? Or is it competition with these generic drugs that are so much cheaper?

ZEWDIE: I'm sure it is a combination of all of the above. The epidemic, especially in sub-Saharan Africa has reached proportions where anybody who has anything to do with this epidemic has to start doing something. So it's most of the reasons that you have mentioned. And also the negotiations that have been taking place between these pharmaceutical companies and the UN agencies working with them.

PHILLIPS: Is this the first time that these drug companies have actually acknowledged that these generics do save lives and can make a difference?

ZEWDIE: I don't think so. I think what we are looking to the Council to say that. The drug companies have started working with the UN agencies, governments of developing countries, especially activist groups who have been behind all -- everybody that has anything to do with this epidemic.

So the discussion has been going on for a very long time. But in the past couple of months, we have seen a flurry of activities. It's -- two years ago this time, we were talking about the drug costing more than $10,000.00 per person per year. So there is a substantial amount of work that has gone in the last couple of months, especially and in the last year.

PHILLIPS: Now, let's talk a minute about that -- the cost difference. It's 10 to $15,000.00 to treat an AIDS patient in the United States. Is it the same in Africa where those staggering numbers are?

ZEWDIE: It used to be. That is what we are talking about now. Because at that cost, it's totally inaccessible for 99 percent of the population in developing countries, somewhere had to be funds to make these drugs accessible and affordable.

Even at this price that we are talking now, we shouldn't assume that these are indeed going to be accessible to, especially most of the sub-Saharan African countries. We need to...

PHILLIPS: Now -- I'm sorry. Go ahead.

ZEWDIE: ... we need to realize that the per capita health expenditure per person per year in most of these countries is around 12 to $20.00. So that's what the countries are placing now.

PHILLIPS: OK. So that's what we're talking about -- to treat these patients in Africa, we're -- it's going to -- the generics will bring the price down to about $10.00 to treat...

ZEWDIE: No.

PHILLIPS: Explain the numbers for me.

ZEWDIE: The lowest price that I have heard of from the generic companies so far is $347.00 per person per year.

PHILLIPS: OK.

ZEWDIE: That...

PHILLIPS: Now, what kind of difference will we see now? Now that these generics will be made available, is this going to bring it down by hundreds of dollars?

ZEWDIE: We hope so because what I was referring to was the total health expenditure for most of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa hardest hit by this epidemic is anywhere between 10 to $20. So to expect these countries to afford the drug, which costs even $347.00 per person per year is going to be very difficult for them. PHILLIPS: OK, Ms. Zewdie. Now, let's talk about, how do you get these drugs to the people? There are so many people who are infected. How's this going to work? How's this going to start to be implemented? And how soon will people start to see the affects of this access?

ZEWDIE: It's going to be very complex. It is indeed very complex. The price -- bringing the price down is only part of the puzzle. There are a number of things that have to be taking place.

For example, over 95 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa don't even know that they are infected. So we need to set up a voluntary counseling and testing system. We need to have a health infrastructure, which would help us monitor that administration of the drug appropriately.

So the -- building the health infrastructure is one part. The commitment of the governments of the African countries themselves is another part and the international community and the pharmaceutical companies. If all of these forces join together then we will be moving in the right direction.

PHILLIPS: Well, this is definitely moving in the right direction. Debrework Zewdie with the World Bank. Thank you so much for being with us and talking about the new breakthrough.

ZEWDIE: Thank you for having me.

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