Links: Avert.org & World Health Organization
Children orphaned by AIDS live with an elderly
relative
and fend for themselves in this house near Mubende.
| Uganda has received much favorable publicity because of its ABC
program (Abstinence, Be faithful, use a Condom) to control AIDS.
There is agreement that the prevalence is declining, though the
accuracy of the statistics is questioned. Some say that the
percentage of the population with AIDS has declined from 16% to 6%,
suggesting that 10% of the population has died (3,000,000 deaths).
Anecdotal information is that most Ugandans have lost 10 or more
relatives to AIDS. With family sizes of 6 or 7 children it is not
difficult to count 100 or 200 relatives. That suggests 5% to 10% of
the population has died. Anecdotal information is that it is now impossible to buy sex without a condom. Personals looking for romance on the NewVision web site specify HIV status. Between the governmental publicity on the ABC program and the stark reality of relatives dropping like flies, one would expect to find that behaviors have changed. Anti-retroviral drugs are now subsidized and are being used extensively. Recent information, however, suggests that the number of new infections has increased to 130,000 and is projected to rise to 200,000 per year. Factors are said to include complacency as the availability of anti-retroviral drugs sinks in, and the non-availability of condoms as funding dries up. |
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