MSF's HIV/Aids project in Mozambique has now implemented AZT, a new and more effective kind of preventative anti-retroviral treatment (ARV) for pregnant women with HIV/Aids. To avoid passing the virus on to their children women must take two tablets a day from 32 weeks of pregnancy and continue taking the tablets one week after delivery.

According to the assistant medical coordinator Christine Kabanda: "Before AZT we were using a single dose of the anti-retroviral Nevaripine to try and prevent mother to child transmission (PMTCT). We had real problems with women developing resistance to the nevaripine. Using AZT is a big improvement as it's more effective and reduces the risk of resistance."

However, MSF clinics in Mozambique still see a lot of children. To address this issue, MSF and Ministry of Health staff are now trying a new type of consultation for children at risk. These consultations focus on providing treatment and care for children with HIV/Aids and other chronic diseases.

But the lack of paediatric formulations is still a problem. As Christine explains: "The only drugs we have for children with HIV/Aids come in adult dosages, so we have to crush up pills or give them syrups which are expensive, taste disgusting and are very difficult to store. If we are going to treat children with HIV/Aids then there's a desperate need for suitable drugs."