Report: New child HIV infections down by 52%

There has been a 52 per cent global reduction in new HIV infections among children and a combined 33 per cent reduction among adults and children, since 2001, a new report by Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (Unaids) shows. The 2013 Report on the global Aids epidemic highlights progress on 10 targets and commitments of the UN Political Declaration on HIV and Aids, set by UN member states in 2011 at the UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on Aids.The report was released yesterday ahead of a meeting of the UN General Assembly meant to review progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.Aids-related deaths have dropped by 30 per cent since the peak in 2005 as access to antiretroviral treatment expands. Antiretroviral drugs have reportedly reached nearly 10 million people, it says. Rwanda on track Rwanda is particularly rated high for having health facilities provide HIV services integrated with other health services.Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the head of HIV division at the Rwanda Bio Medical Centre, attributed the country’s progress to a combination of many approaches, including the role of community health workers.Dr. Nsanzimana cited good governance, improved structure of the health system, ownership of health programmes by beneficiaries and efficient use of external funding among the factors responsible for the downward trend. “Our own history as a country explains much of this context because we have lost many people and, this time, we know the value of protecting people’s lives,” Dr. Nsanzimana told The New Times yesterday.“There are different health innovations too. We might have few doctors but they put in a lot of effort and work extra hours, so that Rwandans access quality treatment.”According to the report, in 2012 the number of people living with the virus in Rwanda was estimated at 210,000, down from 240, 000 people in year 2001.The HIV prevalence rate in the country is 3.0 per cent of the general population, aged 15-49, according to demographic health survey 2010.Kenya had 1.6 million in both periods; Uganda had 1 million and 1.5 million in 2012 and 2001, respectively, while Tanzania had an estimated 1.5m in both 2001 and 2012. “Rwanda continues to make progress in most areas. There is a reported decrease in the estimated new HIV infections for all ages and a decrease in the estimated Aids deaths,” Dr. Sibongile Dludlu, the Unaids Country Coordinator, told The New Times.In terms of service provision, Dr. Dludlu noted that there is a high level of integration of HIV services with other health services in the country. The antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage – based on the WHO 2010 guidelines – is over 90 per cent. On new HIV infections (all ages), Rwanda recorded 7,800 in 2011, down from 17,000 in year 2001.In the same period, Kenya recorded 98,000 in 2012, down from 140, 000, Uganda 94, 000, down and 140, 000 while Tanzania recorded 83,000 down from 130, 000.The report said in 2001 and 2012, estimated Aids deaths in Burundi were 13,000 and 4,800; respectively, Kenya, 130,000 and 57,000; Rwanda, 23,000 and 5,600; Uganda, 110,000 and 63,000; and Tanzania, 120,000 and 80,000.In Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi, the percentage of infants born to HIV-positive women receiving a virological test for HIV within two months of birth, is 39, 75, 32, and 8, respectively. It said by the end of 2012, some 9.7 million people in low-and middle-income countries were accessing antiretroviral therapy, an increase of nearly 20 per cent in just one year.In 2011, UN member states agreed to a 2015 target of reaching 15 million people with HIV treatment.

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Report: New child HIV infections down by 52%