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The book alleges that HIV/AIDS started when a hunter caught an infected chimpanzee for food and the virus entered from the chimpanzee’s blood into the hunter’s body. The name of the hunter is not revealed in the book.

The book further alleges that HIV spread during the time when European countries were partitioningAfrica. The book alleges that HIV/AIDS reached USA and Europe through intermarriages between African slaves and the whites.  The book also notes that other deadly diseases like sleeping sickness, smallpox and syphilis were brought toAfricaby the Europeans.

HIV likely festered in Kinshasa for decades prior to entering into global circulation in the 1970s, the authors say. It alleges that between 1960 and 1970s between 1000 and 2000 residents in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo had become infected with HIV/AIDS. The book notes that many HIV/Aids victims mingled with United Nations workers from Haiti who had come to Kinshasha to work as physicians and civil servants.

HIV/AIDS has killed millions of people across the world. The book was authored by a Washington Post journalist and an Aids researcher atHarvardUniversity; Craig Timberg and Harvard epidemiologist Daniel Halperin. It says that HIV/AIDS broke inCameroonabout 100 years ago. Since HIV/AIDS broke out, the book notes that it has killed millions of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Victoria (Uganda), Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.

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The Executive Director of the United States of America and President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative chief, Lois Quam has arrived in Uganda on Monday.

Lois Quam is in Uganda for a one week visit to support Uganda’s Ministry of Health’s effort to reduce maternal deaths by at least 50% in four western districts of Uganda by the end of this year.

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The report that was launched by the Uganda AIDS Commissions in Kampala shows that the increasing infections is due to the men who do not like to use protective measures when having sex with their non permanent partners or prostitutes.

Dr. Zainabu Akol says that when conducting the research they found that prostitutes move with condoms but men decline to use those condoms.

Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, the director of Uganda AIDS commission says that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS among the prostitutes in Uganda now stands at about 37 percent.

Dr. Apuuli has advised couples to remain faithful and the pregnant women to always take HIV tests such that if they test positive the children are protected from mother to child HIV infections.

Ultimate Media

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This came true when Lukwago was yesterday attacked by a sleeping bug at Kampala Students Centre where he had gone to open a seminar on HIV/AIDS.

Lukwago was the one presiding over the function. One of the KCCA councilors intimated to us that Lukwago really struggled to keep his eyes open in vain.

The students looked at him in disbelief as the sleeping bug fought him throughout the function. Lukwago was overheard telling his escorts that he had not slept last night.

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However its producers are determined to make it sell inUgandaand all costs.

Therefore they have reorganized its re-introduction to Ugandans in the first week of November this year. The roses in rain is about HIV/AIDS threatening to break up a family.

 The film was directed by Emmanuel Onuoha and Dare Folder of Nigeria among others.

Some of the actors in the film include Nigerians Zack Orj and Clarion Chukwurah. Ugandan actors and actress include Karitas Karisimbi, Sheila Nvanungi, Patriko Mujuuka and Jenifer Kabanda.

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This came true when Lukwago was yesterday attacked by a sleeping bug at Kampala Students Centre where he had gone to open a seminar on HIV/AIDS.

 Lukwago was the one presiding over the function. One of the KCCA councilors intimated to us that Lukwago really struggled to keep his eyes open in vain. 

The students looked at him in disbelief as the sleeping bug fought him throughout the function. Lukwago was overheard telling his escorts that he had not slept last night.

By Moureen Nakyanzi

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Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi

The launched strategies by the vice president, H.E. Edward Kiwanuka Sekandiinclude, the national HIV prevention strategy, Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV strategy.

Speaking at the launch of the strategies, Sekandi cautions the experts to be extra careful as they implement these new preventive tools noting that they have to fully inform nationals that the disease is still with us.

 But the health minister, Christine Andoa reveals that govt is to sign US.$.270M to be used in fighting malaria, T.B and other related disease which tend to break down the persons’ system when infected with the disease adding that much emphasis is to be put on islands.

However, the chairman, Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) Prof. Vinand Nantulya challenges teachers to re-embark on teaching pupils and student the dangers of the disease and preventive methods as it was it the past.

He also stresses that men are now leading in transmitting the disease to their wives and children which now calls for change in men’s behaviors.

By Isaac Senabulya

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“It has taken the world ten years to achieve this level of momentum,” says Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of WHO’s HIV Department.  “There is now a very real possibility of getting ahead of the epidemic. But this can only be achieved by both sustaining and accelerating this momentum over the next decade and beyond.”

Advances in HIV science and programme innovations over the past year add hope for future progress. In times of economic austerity it will be essential to rapidly apply new science, technologies and approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HIV programmes in countries.

The report highlights what is already working:

• Improved access to HIV testing services enabled 61% of pregnant women in eastern and southern Africa to receive testing and counseling for HIV – up from 14% in 2005.

• Close to half (48%) of pregnant women in need receive effective medicines to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in 2010.

• Antiretroviral therapy (ART), which not only improves the health and well-being of the infected people but also stops further HIV transmission, is available now for 6.65 million people in low- and middle-income countries, accounting for 47% of the 14.2 million people eligible to receive it.

When people are healthier, they are better able to cope financially. The report acknowledges that investment in HIV services could lead to total gains of up to US$34 billion by 2020 in increased economic activity and productivity, more than offsetting the costs of ART programmes.

“2011 has been a game changing year. With new science, unprecedented political leadership and continued progress in the AIDS response, countries have a window of opportunity to seize this momentum and take their responses to the next level,” said Paul De Lay, Deputy Executive Director, Programme, UNAIDS. “By investing wisely, countries can increase efficiencies, reduce costs and improve on results. However, gains made to date are being threatened by a decline in resources for AIDS.”

The report also points to what still needs to be done:

• More than half of the people who need antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries are still unable to access it. Many of them do not even know that they have HIV.

• Despite the growing body of evidence as to what countries need to focus on to make a real impact on their epidemics, some are still not tailoring their programmes for those who are most at risk and in need. In many cases, groups including adolescent girls, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, prisoners and migrants remain unable to access HIV prevention and treatment services.

Worldwide, the vast majority (64%) of people aged 15-24 living with HIV today are female. The rate is even higher in sub-Saharan Africa where girls and young women make up 71% of all young people living with HIV – essentially because prevention strategies are not reaching them.

Key populations are continually marginalized. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, more than 60% of those living with HIV are people who inject drugs. But injecting drug users account for only 22% of those receiving ART.

Although better services to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV have averted some 350 000 new infections among children, some 3.4 million children are living with HIV – many of whom lack HIV treatment. Only about one in four children in need of HIV treatment in low- and middle-income countries received it in 2010, as compared to 1 in 2 adults.

“While there have been gains in treatment, care and support available to adults, we note that progress for children is slower,” says Leila Pakkala, Director of the UNICEF Office in Geneva.  “The coverage of HIV interventions for children remains alarmingly low. Through concerted action and equity-focused strategies, we must make sure that global efforts are working for children as well as adults”.

HIV in regions and countries

In 2010, HIV epidemics and responses in different parts of the world vary with shifting trends, progress rates and outcomes.

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the biggest overall annual increase–30%–in the number of people accessing ART. Three countries (Botswana, Namibia and Rwanda) have achieved universal coverage (80%) for HIV prevention, treatment and care services. The regional ART coverage rate stood at 39% at the end of 2010. Approximately 50% of pregnant women living with HIV receive treatment to prevent mother-to child transmission of HIV. And 21% of children in need are able to get paediatric HIV treatments. There were 1.9 million new infections in the region, where 22.9 million people are living with HIV. There are some major disparities in progress between different parts of the region. Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have reached much higher coverage rates for ART (56%) and PMTCT (64%) than countries in Western and Central Africa (30% and 18% respectively).

Asia shows a stabilizing epidemic overall, but new infections are very high in some communities. Of the 4.8 million people living with HIV in Asia, nearly half (49%) are in India. Antiretroviral treatment coverage is increasing with 39% of adults and children in need of HIV treatment having access. Coverage of PMTCT services is relatively low- (16%).

Eastern Europe and Central Asia presents a dramatic growth in HIV, with new infections increasing by 250% in the past decade. Over 90% of these infections occur in just two countries: Russia and Ukraine. The region demonstrates high coverage rates for PMTCT and paediatric HIV treatment (with 78% and 65% coverage rates respectively). However, ART coverage is very low at 23%, particularly among the most affected people- the ones who inject drugs.

Middle East and North Africa records the highest number of HIV infections ever in the region (59 000) in 2010, which represents a 36% increase over the past year. Coverage of HIV services are very low in the region: 10% for ART, 5% for paediatric treatment and 4% for PMTCT.

Latin America and the Caribbean have a stabilizing epidemic with 1.5 million living with HIV in Latin America and 200 000 in the Caribbean. HIV is predominantly among networks of men who have sex with men in Latin America. In the Caribbean though, women are the more affected group accounting for 53% of people living with HIV. The region has ART coverage of 63% for adults and 39% for children.  Coverage for effective PMTCT regimen is relatively high at 74%.

Sustaining the HIV response through the next 10 years

• Countries are already showing marked efficiency gains in HIV programmes: South Africa reduced HIV drug costs by more than 50% over a two-year period by implementing a new tendering strategy for procurement. Uganda saved US$2 million by shifting to simpler paediatric regimens. Such efficiencies are promoted throughTreatment 2.0 – an initiative launched by WHO and UNAIDS in 2010 to promote simpler, cheaper and easier-to-deliver HIV treatment and diagnostic tools, combined with decentralized services that are supported by communities.

• A WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF “Elimination Initiative” aims to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keep their mothers alive.

• WHO is developing new guidance on the strategic use of antiretroviral drugs for both prevention and treatment.

• WHO’s “Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV/AIDS, 2011-2015”, endorsed by the World Health Assembly in May 2011 highlights the importance of continuing efforts to optimize HIV treatment and “combination” prevention – the use of a range of different approaches to reduce people’s risk of infection.

The 2011 “Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Response” is the comprehensive report on both the epidemiology and progress rates in access to HIV services globally and in regions and countries. It has been jointly developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, in collaboration with national and international partners.

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