AEGiS-IRIN: UGANDA: Successful example of strong response to AIDS

AEGiS-IRIN: UGANDA: Successful example of strong response to AIDS - UNAIDS

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

UGANDA: Successful example of strong response to AIDS - UNAIDS

Integrated Regional Information Networks - December 8, 2000

UNAIDS has praised Uganda for its efforts in turning around the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country. "Uganda was one of the first countries in Africa to recognize the threat posed by AIDS to development. It understood early on the importance of long-term efforts in both prevention and care," said Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS. "AIDS is a long-term emergency and commitments to slowing the epidemic require renewal over decades. As Uganda has shown, there are no short-cuts to AIDS. The sooner efforts start, the better the chances of success."

"In Uganda, we have seen major success. The rate of HIV infection among young girls 13 to 19 fell significantly over an eight-year period. Among teenage boys - always much lower because boys are less likely than girls to have partners in the older, more heavily infected age groups - the rate has remained roughly stable," said Michel Sidibe, UNICEF Representative and Chair of the UN Theme Group.

Recently the Ugandan ministry of health said it was developing a plan to increase access to an essential care package for people living with HIV/AIDS. The package would include providing voluntary counselling and testing, psycho-social support for people with HIV/AIDS and their families, and improved access to antiretroviral drugs and to medicines to prevent and treat opportunistic infections.

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