100,000 Tanzanians to be on ARVs before 2007

At least 100,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania are expected to be able to receive anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) by the end of next year.

The figure was disclosed by Tanzanian Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye when explaining to the country's lawmakers on Thursday about the government's plan to expand the ARVs treatment program.

Some 4,200 Tanzanians living with HIV/AIDS are currently on the ARVs at the expense of the government that has spent 92.5 billion shillings (83.3 million US dollars) for fiscal 2004/2005 in its anti-HIV/AIDS program.

With the funds, of which 78 billion shillings (70.2 million dollars) came from international donors, the Tanzanian government has purchased ARVs for treating 17,000 patients and the drugs have been distributed to 64 hospitals and clinics around the country.

HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are the three killer diseases in Tanzania, where at least 2.2 million people are now living with HIV/AIDS infections and 140,000 patients die of the disease each year.

Source: Xinhua