Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - December 14, 2005
AFRICA û The continent is making little headway against AIDS despite wider availability of life-prolonging drugs, the United Nations said. A drive to bring AIDS-fighting anti-retroviral drugs had scored success, according to UNAIDS, with major distributions under way in many countries. But although some 700,000 people are now on ARV treatment, they are only about 10% of those needing the drugs.
AIDS-decline
UN û The UN agency charged with AIDS work recognised Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe as countries where adult HIV prevalence appeared to be declining. Uganda, an early leader in AIDS prevention, saw adult prevalence fall to an estimated 7%. Kenya also shows prevalence down to 9% and Zimbabwe to 21%.
Free training
KAMPALA - Over 2,500 people registered and trained to do voluntary work as community drug distributors. At least two people, chosen from each village in the city, were awarded certificates at Nakivubo Settlement Primary School after a two-day training on how to handle malaria. Each distribution centre was also given a bicycle. The home-based management of fever strategy is funded by government and donor partners like the Global fund, World Health Organisation among others.
War on worms
SOROTI û After receiving 350,000 meticzan tablets from the Ministry of Health, the district has embarked on a massive campaign against the filarial worms that cause elephantiasis and hydrocells. According to the recent survey, Soroti is among the districts with a high prevalence of filarial worms that cause lymphatic filariasis. Other districts are Katakwi, Lira, Apac, Kaberemaido, Kamuli, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Kotido.
Help needed
KAMPALA - The director of Mental Health Uganda, Julius Lutaakome Kayiira, has asked the Government to look into the country's psychiatric units. He told The New Vision that many regional hospitals like Mbale Psychiatric Unit are in an appaling state, some are not large enough to treat males and females separately and several outreach medical facilities ignore psychiatric services for lack of personnel and drugs.
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