Farmers feed ARVs to chickens, report reveals

An investigation has uncovered farmers buying antiretroviral drugs intended for HIV patients on the black market and mixing them into chicken feed, a practice detailed in a report published by iHarare. The farmers use ARVs to reduce bird deaths and accelerate growth, believing the drugs protect stock from diseases. The practice diverts life-saving medicines from patients, introducing unapproved substances into the food supply. Farmers believe the drugs act as growth stimulants and reduce mortality. The exposure reveals a profit-driven misuse of public health resources, endangering both human treatment programmes and food safety.