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Rumours of HIV in contraceptive spread panic in Zambia
A public health scare sparked by allegations that batches of the injectible contraceptive, Depro-Provera, contained the HI virus has exposed deep mistrust and high levels of misinformation about the safety of imported drugs.
Health department spokesperson Dr Canisius Banda said the allegation was made by a laboratory technician working at a public health clinic, who decided to test the hormone-based contraceptive for HIV after noticing that it was labelled 'for export only'.
Reports that the drug might contain HIV have created panic among Zambian women who receive three-monthly Depo-Provera shots to prevent pregnancy, prompting the Zambian government to withdraw the drug from public health facilities while it conducts its own tests.
