Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 29, 2004
For socio-economic and biological reasons, girls and young women are more susceptible to HIV infection than boys and men. In sub-Saharan Africa, three fifths of adults living with HIV are women.
Uganda continues to be a shinning example in fighting against HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS estimates that the national prevalence of HIV in Uganda has declined from 13% in the early 1990s to 4.1% presently.
The mainstay of Uganda's anti-AIDS campaign has been abstinence from sex for young people, being faithful to one's partner and using condoms where one cannot apply the first two options.
This ABC strategy has made recognisable achievements. However, ABC is not enough. The prevalence of HIV, which declined consistently for more than a decade, now appears to have stabilised.
To achieve further reduction requires going beyond ABC. For example a girl who abstains from sex till marriage and remains faithful can still get HIV if she unknowingly marries an HIV-positive man or if the husband goes for extra-marital sex.
This puts several years of abstinence to waste. In areas where social structures have been disturbed by armed conflict, girls are much more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation.
To make further progress against AIDS, new efforts will be required to address gender imbalances and other factors that have not been given adequate attention.
Voluntary HIV counselling and testing should be availed as close as the sub-county health centres so that young people can know their sero-status before marriage.
Scientists should speed up research for a female-controlled barrier to HIV infection. Since men so far take the lion's share of anti-retroviral drugs, women should get first priority on free treatment to be provided by Government. Attitude changes are needed at the individual, family, community and national levels to achieve mutual respect between men and women.
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