The World Health Organisation (WHO) has donated anti-retroviral drugs and medical equipment worth US$91,000 to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

WHO liaison officer, Dr Rui Gama Vaz presented the drugs and equipment to the director for disease prevention and control, Dr Patrick Herminie, in a ceremony held recently at Victoria Hospital.

Dr Gama Vaz said the equipment was meant to facilitate the improvement of health care in Seychelles and the items included in the donation were specifically requested for by the ministry.

He said the equipment was for emergency preparedness and response and came as part of the WHO's continued support to Seychelles.

He said that some of the equipment that was meant for use in the public health laboratory would improve the capacity to diagnose diseases and support the implementation of the integrated surveillance and response system.

The items also include an autoclave, used to sterilise objects.

Expressing appreciation on behalf of the ministry, Dr Herminie said that the items included in the donation would help the ministry in its continued struggle against epidemics.

"We have just managed to control Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and now we are struggling with AIDS," he said, adding that epidemics always teach mankind something new.

"AIDS is a reminder that sex is never safe," he said, noting that syphilis first taught that lesson, but as medicine against the disease was developed, mankind soon forgot the lesson.

"Even though we have drugs, we must not forget that unsafe safe has biological consequences.

He said that the anti-retroviral drugs will help the ministry in its expensive endeavour to treat patients who are infected with HIV/AIDS.

Members of MoH's central management committee attended the presentation ceremony.

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