Multiple reports say some Zimbabwe chicken farmers obtain antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), which are normally used to treat HIV, and add them to chicken feed to speed growth and reduce disease and deaths. The accounts describe farmers buying ARVs through informal or black-market channels and mixing them into feed as a strategy to increase profits and improve production outcomes. Industry insiders cited in one report say the practice is motivated by the belief that ARVs can protect poultry stock from illness and function as growth stimulants, leading to faster turnaround times for chickens.
The reports also raise concerns about public health and harm to HIV treatment. They state that using ARVs outside approved medical contexts exposes consumers to potential health risks and undermines the availability and effectiveness of HIV medicines. However, the articles rely largely on claims from industry sources and do not provide independent figures on how widespread the practice is, or on official enforcement actions or test results confirming drug residues in poultry products.
