Evelyn Lirri
2 August 2008
Uganda is one of the countries where a significant prevention of new infections of HIV has been registered, the latest report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV indicates.
The report released on July 29 says that much of the dramatic declines have been as a result of change in sexual behaviour. "In a number of heavily affected countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe, dramatic changes in sexual behaviour have been accompanied by declines in the number of new infections," the report says.
It says that a decline in new infections in these countries has contributed to the global stabilisation of people infected by the virus since the late 1990s.
According to the report, some of the factors contributing to the decline in sexual behaviour are the increased use of condoms and abstinence from until later years.
The report warns that even with the registered prevention of new infections, there it is still a long way before the promise of an Aids free generation is fulfilled. It says that progress is still uneven across countries, and the epidemics future still uncertain.
Uganda has been promoting the ABC- Abstinence, be Faithful and use a Condom approach for HIV prevention. This enabled the country to reduce its national HIV prevalence from about 30 per cent in the early years of the epidemic to about 6.4 per cent to date. However, recent trends indicate that since 2000, the prevalence has stagnated.
This latest comprehensive report published by Unaids is based on progress review reports from 147 countries globally as part of efforts to implement the 2001 declaration of commitments on HIV.
The report also says that increased financing for HIV programmes, especially in low income countries including Uganda has contributed to lowering prevalence and preventing new infections.
The Director General of the Uganda Aids Commission, Dr Kihumuro Apuuli, said in Uganda's Progress Report that some of the factors driving the epidemic include behavioural, social cultural, economic and geographic factors like poverty and early marriage.
Dr Apuuli said that new infections are found highest among cohabiting, married or widowed people. This group category, he said contribute to 42 per cent of the new infections, conventional sex contributes 22 per cent, mother to child transmission 21 per cent, while casual sex contribute to 14 per cent of new infections.
According to Dr Apuuli, currently the HIV prevalence rate is 6.4 percent, with percentages higher in the urban areas at 10.1 per cent while in the rural areas prevalence stands at 5.7 per cent.
In a press statement, the Executive Director of Unaids, Dr Peter Piot said the positive progress should be sustained. "Gains in saving lives by preventing new infections and providing treatment to people living with HIV must be sustained over the long term," he said.
"Short-term gains should serve as a platform for reinvigorating combination HIV prevention and treatment efforts and not spur complacency," Dr Piot added.
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