He told a recent National Aids Commission press conference, at Methodist Outreach Centre, High Street, Georgetown, that 123 patients have, so far, received treatment and their response has been excellent.

Ali said, before receiving the drugs and initial counseling, they also consented to being treated.

According to him, prior to getting such attention, the patients had complained of persistent fever, recurrent oral trush pruritis (itching), weight loss and frequent diarrhoea.

He said those symptoms were abated in most cases after they were treated and weight gain was evident as the persons reported feeling better.

Ali said side effects have been minimal and, even in the initiation phase, the drugs were well tolerated.