By; Ben Musanje

A research report released by health experts in Rakai districts has showed a decline of 42 percent in persons living with HIV/AIDS for the last 17 years from 1999 to 2016.

According to the report that was carried out in 30 communities involving at least 34,000 individuals aged between 15 to 45years, 6.6 percent of every 1000 persons in the district had HIV.

The Ministry of Health’s HIV survey 2016, revealed that 1.3 million Ugandans are HIV positive.

54 percent of Men are infected with HIV compared to 32% females amidst the introduction of combined preventions among them; voluntary medical male circumcision and antiretroviral treatment are seen as some of the contributing factors that have contributed to the reduction in HIV infections.

69% of HIV positive person are on ARVs of whom 75% have been able to sustain their viral load suppression that meets UNAIDs goal of 90-90-90.

Prof. David Serwadda, a researcher in the Rakai Health Science Program adds that the decline was further achieved with the introduction of a combination of prevention measures such as testing, treatment and abstinence among others.

33 years ago, Rakai district in Uganda was the first area to register the first HIV victim in the fishing areas of Kasensero which the community associated to witchcraft not until research disproved it and declared Uganda as one of the worst areas hit with HIV/AIDS.


Friday 1st December 2017 06:03:06 AM