People dying from AIDS vary from one country to another but each year a lot of HIV patients get diagnosed. Antiretroviral (ARV), an anti HIV drug helps in increasing the life span of AIDS patients.

This anti HIV drug is reaching more Ugandans than ever. About 218,000 Ugandans have been provided with ARVs, whereas, 300,000 Ugandans are still waiting for the treatment.

Almost 3% of adults and 4.6% of children surviving on the drug are now taking second-line drugs. The Ministry of Health estimated that 379,551-people would need ARVs.

The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) a Ugandan NGO provides ARVs to 32,990 HIV patients in the country. They have also provided second line drugs to 600 HIV patients, as the cost of these drugs is four times higher than first-line drugs.

Jackie Nankya*, a patient at TASO, had developed resistance about five years ago after he had started undergoing ARV therapy. She said: "I was adhering to the drugs so well but suddenly the sickness reoccurred with intensity in spite of the drugs".

Lack of ARV supplies will make a lot of people depend on second line therapy, which is costlier than first line drugs.