Aids-ravaged Zimbabwe is hoping to double the number of people on antiretrovirals (ARV) in order to reach 70Â 000 sufferers by the end of 2006, a top official said on Thursday.
“We are certainly going to increase the number of people on ARVs … it’s very possible to reach 70Â 000 by the end of the year,” said Raymond Yekeye, operations manager of the National Aids Council.
“[This is] because we are expecting a grant of around $60-million for ARVs and voluntary counselling and testing from our major donor,” Yekeye told Agence France-Presse in an interview.
Zimbabwe, where HIV infection rates are still “unacceptably high” at 20,1 %, but down from 24,6% two years ago, has put 32Â 000 people on ARVs since 2004 when the free roll-out programme was launched.
Yekeye said 300Â 000 people needed the life-prolonging drugs.
He said the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria was to bankroll the programme.
Zimbabwe was also buying ARVs using money raised from a 3% payroll tax. This comes to about $250Â 000 a month.
Zimbabwe last year failed to reach its target to provide ARVs to 100Â 000 people.
Foreign currency shortages are partly blamed for the low number of people on ARVs.
“Scarcity of foreign exchange and inflation have affected our operations … ARVs are imported,” Yekeye said.
He added he was hopeful of cutting Zimbabwe’s infection rate to single digits by 2010 by intensifying prevention activities and scaling up voluntary testing and counselling.
At least 3Â 000 people die weekly from Aids-related illnesses in Zimbabwe. — AFP