AS the AIDS pandemic spreads untold misery across the country, the Uganda AIDS Commission has unveiled new strategies to combat the monster.
The strategies include scaling up routine HIV testing and counselling at all hospitals and grade four health centres. It is targeting 500,000 people annually by 2012 and will be done in 107 hospitals and 160 health centres.
Another is to increase access to quality prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections to at least 90% of all persons living with HIV/AIDS.
“Currently, there are an estimated 1.1 million HIV infected individuals and this number is projected to increase to 1.8 million by 2012 at the current rate of of 135,000 new infections annually,” the commission said in a new document.
The paper was distributed at a two-day workshop in Fort Portal town last week that drew chief administrative officers, district chairpersons, planners, HIV/AIDS focal officers and representatives of civil organisations.
The commission also plans to improve integrated TB-HIV services to ensure diagnosis and treatment of TB-HIV patients. It will also increase equitable access to anti-retroviral therapy, to at least 90% of those requiring treatment.
The body said though access to HIV care including anti-retroviral therapy had increased the burden of HIV care was increasing rapidly. The workshop was to gather views to be incorporated in a 2007/08-2011/2012 national strategic plan.
Participants were from Kasese, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kibaale, Bindibugyo and Hoima districts.
