Reports from Maryknollers working in Africa suggest that drug cost is not the only problem which makes the distribution of AIDS medications difficult. Infrastructure for health facilities is lacking in most African nations. Even in big cities public hospitals do not have essential drugs to combat the most common ailments. These same facilities lack the equipment necessary to properly monitor the dosage of AIDS medications. Without monitoring the exact dosage levels, the side effects of the drugs are so strong that patients might go off them-and this raises the risk of creating new, drug resistant strains of the disease.
Government corruption is another problem which interferes with drug distribution.
Ex-Im bank loans would be facilitated through governments which have already failed in getting drugs to those who need them. Stigma is another problem. Like a placebo it asks African nations to swallow a bitter pill that they believe will help them. At a time when international pressure and G8 commitments have focused on lifting Africa's crippling debt, it asks African governments to mortgage the future of Africans by taking on increased debt. At this point Africa could better use an injection of grants, not new loans, to increase prevention, testing and treatment programs, build its social service infrastructure, purchase medicines and increase the capacity of communities to cope with the crisis.