HIV: Not yet time to drop the guard

As the world prepares to mark World AIDS Day, a new report by the Joint United Nations Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) indicates that Rwanda is one of the three African countries that have achieved universal access to Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. UNAIDS defines universal access, as when 80 percent or more of those eligible for treatment are able to get it. Apart form Rwanda; the others are Botswana and Namibia. A few other countries have achieved between 60-80 per cent. Access to ARVs in developing countries is at an average of 47 per cent. On the whole, UNAIDS states that the number of new infections worldwide, have also dropped by 21 percent from its peak in 1997.. Central to this improvement for the prospects of people who have HIV/AIDS, is the availability of life saving antiretroviral treatment to almost half of all those who are eligible for treatment. At the same time, it has been noted that people who are receiving treatment, are less likely to transmit HIV, to their uninfected sexual partners. Therefore, one can deduce that antiretroviral treatment is an important factor in preventing HIV infections and most importantly reducing mortality from AIDS related complications. Prevention mechanisms remain the best hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Conclusions can be made that ARV therapy is an important factor in combating HIV/AIDS. Condom use and delayed sexual activity among young people have also been recognized among the prevention mechanisms that have helped achieve the new figures. This comes at a time when debate is ongoing as to whether condoms should be made available to students in secondary schools. Ideally, in matters that are proven, there should always be little or no debate. More importantly in such issues like HIV where infection may lead to devastating consequences, action rather than talk should take precedence. The Ministry of Health pronounced itself on the matter, with many taking a sceptical view as regards that position. In any case, delaying sexual debut has proven to reduce new infections. Thus encouraging secondary school students to abstain makes sense, but when that is not possible, use of condoms has to be emphasized. It is inevitable that some students in secondary schools will engage in sexual activity, and therefore, practical measures to prevent infection must be implemented. We are also witnessing an unprecedented development, whereby children born HIV positive, are surviving into young adults, and needing to lead a normal life, socialize, make friends and even start relationships. Availability of antiretroviral treatment has made it possible for those born HIV positive to survive for long. Thus sexual education remains key, in helping the youth avoid infection and assist those who are HIV positive, understand the importance of preventing new infections by not infecting others and acquiring new strains of the virus that may complicate their ongoing treatment. Since it is inevitable that many students, in secondary schools will at some point be sexually active or are already sexually involved, it should no longer be a matter of debate, whether they should have access to condoms. What may be necessary to debate about is how access to condoms can be arranged, without necessarily sending a message that sex is a priority sport for them. Magic Johnson, who 20 years ago announced that he was HIV positive and became the poster child of HIV, has lived long without developing AIDS, thanks to antiretroviral therapy. Globally, he is probably the most famous person living openly with HIV. His long survival and successful life sends a message of hope. Importantly, more than ever before, in the short history of the HIV pandemic, many know people who succumbed in the early days. In recent days, we have seen many other people live long and productive lives with HIV. From such real life examples, the importance of undergoing periodic tests and starting treatment as early as possible when one is HIV positive is reinforced, and as a result, a long and normal life will more often than not be guaranteed. For Rwanda, the giant strides made in combating HIV/AIDS, should never lead to complacence. It has been noted that in some instances, antiretroviral treatment has also eliminated the fear factor. Some people, with the hope that they will get treatment, are willing to engage in risky behaviour. The fact that antiretroviral treatment is no cure needs to be emphasized all the time. The success achieved therefore, should not lead to complacence. kagabo@newtimes.co.rw twitter:@kagabo