Kenya: archbishop appeals to drug companies on anti-retrovirals
The Catholic Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a' Nzeki of Nairobi has made a passionate appeal to pharmaceutical companies asking them to reconsider their opposition to cheap HIV/AIDS anti-retroviral drugs. He was presiding during Mass at the Nairobi's Holy Family Basilica on the occasion of the 13th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (ICASA) underway in Kenya's capital Nairobi. "The pharmaceutical organisations must not wait until our people are wiped out before they come running with their aid," Archbishop Ndingi said. The Archbishop also pleaded with the rich nations to support the efforts of the poor nations in combating the scourge. The Archbishop also officially launched a booklet, 'Inventory of the Catholic Church's Response to HIV/AIDS in Kenya', at the Holy Family Minor Basilica. The booklet is a joint effort of the Catholic ICASA 2003 Task Force and the Kenya Catholic Secretariat.