On Wednesday, Zimbabwe's Health Ministry reported that only 7 percent of the country's AIDS patients are now receiving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Of the 1.6 million Zimbabweans with HIV/AIDS, 280,000 need ARVs, the ministry said. "We currently estimate that about 21,000 are receiving antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe," said Owen Mugurungi, the coordinator of the state's AIDS and TB program. Health Minister David Parirenyatwa acknowledged the ministry missed its goal to treat some 100,000 people with ARVs by the end of the year. But he is optimistic that the domestic manufacture of generic ARVs and provision of the drugs by the private sector could help improve ARV access.

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