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HIV/AIDS decline in Africa

    JOHANNESBURG

    HIV/AIDS prevalence rates are declining in some of the hardest-hit countries in sub-Saharan Africa, a new study by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has found.

    However, experts are still not sure whether to attribute the findings to prevention programs, behaviour changes or an increase in people dying from AIDS-related illnesses.

    "It's too early to call this a victory, but if everything continues to go in the right direction, we may have something here," UNAIDS executive director, Peter Piot, said in a statement.

    USAID noted the levelling off of prevalence rates in cities in 11 countries, which greatly expands earlier reports of the virus being in retreat in Uganda and among young people in Zambia.

    Piot said he believed that in cities like Addis Ababa and Lusaka, the decline among the 15-19 age group "means that we are likely seeing the impact of prevention efforts there."

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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