EAC states agree to cut HIV, TB deaths by 75%

By Taddeo Bwambale

The five East African Community (EAC) member states have agreed to implement programmes aimed at reducing HIV and Tuberculosis-related deaths by 75% by the year 2020.

The commitment is contained in an HIV/AIDS and TB Strategic Plan (2015-2020) developed to guide the implementation of a regional response against the killer diseases.

The EAC region records at least 333,400 new HIV infections every year, with the majority of the infections occurring in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

According to the plan, the EAC states agree to reduce new cases of HIV, TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) by 60%, 50%, and 50%, respectively, over the same period.

The states also commit to increase access and utilization of integrated HIV, TB and STI services by 50% in 2020, in order to scale up prevention and treatment.

At least five million people in East Africa are living with HIV, with more than two million eligible for anti-retroviral treatment (ART).

In 2012, a total of 210,400 people were estimated to have died from AIDS, with the majority being in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

According to the 2014 UNAIDS report, HIV among adults (15-49 years) in the EAC region was 1.0% for Burundi, 6.0% for Kenya, 2.9% for Rwanda, 7.4% for Uganda and 5.0% for Tanzania.

Since 2005, the region has experienced a significant decline in the number of cases, although partner states want stronger interventions to the rate of transmission.

The new plan emphasises focus on high-risk populations, including people along the transport corridors (waterways and borders) who are more likely to get HIV than the general population.

Since ART became more widely available in the region, there has been a consistent decline in the number of AIDS related deaths in all the member countries.

EAC states agree to set up a joint health research commission to probe health conditions afflicting the region, and to establish regional referral centres to handle specialised cases.

During last month’s EAC 5th Annual Scientific Conference held in Kampala, member states agreed to collaborate on disease prevention and control, medicines and food safety.

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