HIV Meds Available in Belize

Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero told News Five today that the final batch of anti-retroviral medicine will arrive in the country by the end of the month.  This means that the Ministry of Health has begun replenishing the country’s stock of medication needed for persons living with HIV/AIDS.  The stock had gone extremely low in the latter half of 2019 and the Ministry of Health had to borrow medications from Trinidad and Guyana after it experienced issues with its Indian supplier.  Doctor Manzanero says that persons living with the virus can breathe a sigh of relief as the Ministry does all it can to ensure that stock remains stable.

Marvin Manzanero

On the Phone: Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“I know we got two loans for medication. One was from Trinidad and the other from Guyana. Those arrived last year.  The update is that some of the items that we had initially procured and paid for has started to come in. I believe the last batch of that comes in on the last week of January. The procurement process for the new cycle has already started. I think one of the situation that we face with is that Indian pharmaceuticals companies form where we procure are not receiving manufacturing ARVs.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Persons living with HIV should not be concerned that Belize would run out of meds again?”

On the Phone: Dr. Marvin Manzanero

“Well hopefully not. I mean we will try to do what we can. Understand that is not an excuse that other countries in the region are in similar situation. I think two other Central American country have approached us in terms of loaning some medications out. I think it is easier for us to get from bigger countries that for us giving or loaning anybody medication.”