PartnersGF - 2005-02-09
Drug Resistance and Patience Compliance: How to improve efficacy
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[Moderators Note: Dr. Abdulsalami Nasidi, Chairperson of the Nigerian CCM, writes in support of a posting last week reminding us that patient compliance and availability of medication are of paramount importance in advocating for ARV access. You can view the former posting by clicking here: http://eforums.healthdev.org/read/messages?id=4105. As always, comments and responses are welcome.]
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Dear Sirs [and Madams],
I am happy to read Dr Gerardo de Casios message where he raises patient compliance and drug resistance and the question he is posing to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and malaria (GFATM). I think this question is to all those involved with the cure and prevention of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria and not the Fund alone.
Once, I asked the same questions at one of the GFATM Board meetings and requested to know how the GFATM intends to improve efficacy of treatments, prevention and care funded by it. It became very important to know if at any given time the GFATM will fund applied research projects that could bring useful information from the field, in particular, those emanating from the GFATM funded projects. Definitely, valuable information will be generated from the various treatment and prevention activities funded by the GFATM against the three diseases. Of great importance is the generation of such valuable information from the poor and most affected countries, where the impact of such interventions will be felt most.
The GFATM should take Dr de Casio's observation seriously and start thinking of how to include applied research into its funded projects. This could be made to be a component of some of the huge projects or a stand alone research proposal coming from field scientists, particularly from countries most affected.
Dr. Abdulsalami Nasidi
Chairman, CCM, Nigeria
nasidia@hotmail.com