African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Why ... - Blackherbals.com

Continued from page 45 – HIV Spread Still High DespiteFall in InfectionUganda has been promoting the ABC – Abstinence, BeFaithful and use a Condom approach for HIVprevention. This enabled the country to reduce itsnational HIV prevalence from about 30 per cent in theearly years of the epidemic to about 6.4 per cent todate. However, recent trends indicate that since 2000,the prevalence has stagnated.This latest comprehensive report published by Unaidsis based on progress review reports from 147 countriesglobally as part of efforts to implement the 2001declaration of commitments on HIV.The report also says that increased financing for HIVprogrammes, especially in low income countriesincluding Uganda has contributed to loweringprevalence and preventing new infections.The Director General of the Uganda Aids Commission,Dr Kihumuro Apuuli, said in Uganda’s ProgressReport that some of the factors driving the epidemicinclude behavioural, social, cultural, economic andgeographic factors like poverty and early marriage.Dr Apuuli said that new infections are found highestamong cohabiting married or widowed people. Thisgroup category, he said contribute to 42 per cent of thenew infections, conventional sex contributes 22 percent, mother to child transmission 21 per cent, whilecasual sex contribute to 14 per cent of new infections.According to Dr Apuuli, currently the HIV prevalencerate is 6.4 percent, with percentages higher in the urbanareas at 10.1 per cent while in the rural areasprevalence stands at 5.7 per cent.In a press statement, the executive Director of Unaids,Dr Peter Piot said the positive progress should besustained. “Gains in saving lives by preventing newinfections and providing treatment to people living withHIV must be sustained over the long term,” he said.“Short term gains should serve as a platform forreinvigorating combination HIV prevention andtreatment efforts and not spur complacency,” Dr Piotadded.☻☻☻☻☻☻Daily Monitor Brief - May 8, 2008At least 27,000 babies in Uganda are born withHIV/Aids every year, according to new statisticsreleased by the Parliamentary Committee on HIV/Aids.Less than 20% of HIV positive pregnant women haveaccess interventions to prevent mother to childinfections.☻☻☻☻☻☻HIV Infection Rate HighAmong ForcesBy Rehema AanyuNew Vision (Kampala)17 July 2008The rate of new HIV infection is high among the armedforces compared to the civilian population, the directorgeneral of the Uganda AIDS Commission has said.Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli noted that the infection rates weretwo to five times higher among the forces than in thewhole population."For every two people put on anti-retroviral (ARV)treatment, five more are infected. It is like chasing amirage."He observed that the armed forces were also at increasedrisk of contracting and spreading HIV due to theirmobility.Apuuli was on Tuesday addressing the army, the Policeand Prisons Service chiefs at the Kampala Protea Hotel.He attributed the new infections to increased interactionbetween combatants and civilians, and rise in commercialsex.Apuuli also cited decreased availability of health servicesrelated to sexually transmitted infections and the lack ofadequate knowledge and means to prevent transmission.The armed forces should incorporate HIV/AIDSinterventions in their programmes and counterstigmatisation of victims, Apuuli suggested."The armed forces must help in building bridges betweencommunities and vulnerable groups to make their liveseasier."He also called for more funding to expand access to antiretroviraltherapy as well as medicines to treatopportunistic infections and other sexually transmitteddiseases.The director of HIV/AIDS interventions in the army, Lt.Col. Stephen Kusasira, said the disease was the maincause of death in the force.He said they were incorporating sensitisation on thepandemic in all command duties and training.The meeting was organised by the Community Healthand Information Network.☻☻☻☻☻☻-46- Traditional African Clinic October 2008