92,000 new HIV infections registered

Jul 15, 2009

A TOTAL of 91,546 adults contracted HIV in 2008, according to the Modes of Transmission Report released on Tuesday.

By Anthony Bugembe

A TOTAL of 91,546 adults contracted HIV in 2008, according to the Modes of Transmission Report released on Tuesday.

This translates to about 20 commuter taxis filled with people getting infected daily. In total, 13.1 million adults live with the HIV virus.

“Of all new infections in adults (15-49 years) in 2008, 43% were among people in discordant monogamous relationships in the past 12 months, while 46% were among persons reporting multiple partnerships and their partners,” notes the report.

Launching the report at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, presidency minister Beatrice Wabudeya advocated for increasing the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge in the communities.

Commercial sex workers, their clients and partners of clients contributed 10% of new infections, the report added.

There was also a shift in concentration of the epidemic from younger to older individuals.
The highest prevalence for men is among 35-39 year-olds (9.9%) compared to 30-34 year-olds (12%) among women.

According to the 2006 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey, 31.3% of females aged 15-49 and 41.7% males had comprehensive knowledge about HIV and AIDS.

Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, Uganda AIDS Commission director general, attributed the stagnation to complacency and declining morals especially among adolescents.
The young people, Apuuli said, did not witness the gravity of the pandemic in the 1980s.

Chris Baryomunsi, Kinkizi East MP and an AIDS activist, said: “The epidemic is still at an early stage of development. We don’t know what it will be 10 to 20 years from now.
“We must increase coverage and access to prevention services like condoms especially upcountry.”

Maj. Ruranga Rubaramira, who has lived with the virus for 25 years, attacked ethics minister Nsaba Buturo for ‘chasing around’ gays and lesbians.

“Gays and lesbians started in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. If God failed to stop it, how can Buturo stop it?” he asked.

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