National Health Systems and Unmet Need for Antiretroviral Medication and HIV/AIDS-Related Healthcare in African Countries Emerging from Conflict

This article examines challenges faced by the national health systems of African countries emerging from conflict in the provision of antiretroviral (ARV) medication and HIV/AIDS-related healthcare. It analyses resource profiles, the unmet need for antiretroviral medication, and progress in the provision of HIV/AIDS-related healthcare in Burundi, Liberia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Uganda, using data from the Global AIDS Response Progress Reports (GARPR) of 2011. Findings indicate that challenges to the health systems in post-conflict countries are immense and should not be underestimated, particularly in the context of HIV/AIDS. Policy recommendations for bolstering the performance of national health systems of post-conflict countries in the context of HIV/AIDS are proposed.