According to farmers interviewed, a single tablet of any ARV drug type is mixed with feed obtained from stockers and is enough to feed 100 broilers for two days. The special feed is staggered, with the chickens being fed only twice a week, according to the farmers.
Marangwanda said she borrowed the idea from her neighbours who were also rearing chickens for sale. One source revealed that the drugs were cheaply available on the black market, where traders sourcing goods for resale from Zambia were the main suppliers, but added that staff at health institutions also sold the drugs.
Health Service Board public relations officer, Nyasha Maravanyika, told The Zimbabwean they were investigating the issue.
“It is disturbing to hear that some people are using ARVs as feed for broilers,” she said.
A State Registered Nurse, Kurauone Takaedza, said it was possible that ARVs accelerated the growth of poultry, but no expert views on how ARVs would work on the chicken or possible health effects on consumers of the chicken was immediately available.
According to the National Aids Council, 500,000 patients are currently accessing ARVs, out of about 600,000 who need them. However, independent sources say the figure of people currently on ARVs is far lower than that, while those who are supposed to be on anti-retroviral therapy exceed 800,000.
Post published in: News