Uganda AIDS Commission Aimed At Reducing Spread Of HIV

The Uganda AIDS Commission plans to implement a five-year strategy aimed at reducing the spread of HIV in the country by more than 40%, the New Vision/AllAfrica.comreports. The strategy will focus on boosting the ABC approach to HIVprevention -- which stands for abstinence, be faithful and use condoms-- and on providing people living with HIV/AIDS with treatment access.

Theplan aims to provide antiretroviral drugs to 80% of HIV-positive peoplein the country. Kihumulo Apuuli, chief of the commission, said theprogram will "increase access to treatment, care and support of thepeople living with HIV/AIDS in addition to offering prevention servicesto the entire population." The terms of the program were agreed upon atthe United Nations General Assembly in June 2006, Apuuli said.

Apuulialso denied claims by some HIV/AIDS advocates that the program willundermine the ABC approach, saying the new program will "complement theABC strategy" (New Vision/AllAfrica.com, 10/24).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view theentire Kaiser DailyHIV/AIDS Report, search the archives, and sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork.org/email . The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report ispublished for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser FamilyFoundation.