KAMPALA, Nov. 22– Uganda has registered a 41.3 percent decline in new HIV infections over the past two years, according to a report released by the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) on Wednesday. The UAC, responsible for overseeing and coordinating HIV/AIDS initiatives nationwide, reported that new infections decreased from 58,000 in 2020/21 to 34,000 in 2023/24. “Looking at key HIV indicators, we have observed a decline in new HIV infections. HIV prevalence is declining, though still higher among women 6.6 percent compared to men 3.6 percent,” the report said. “More efforts are needed to reduce deaths among people living with HIV as well as vertical HIV transmission from mother to child.” According to the report, the drop in new infections was a result of a combination of factors ranging from intensified condom distribution, introduction of new pre-exposure prophylaxis methods, care for HIV-positive mothers, targeted HIV testing and expanded antiretroviral treatment enrollment. Additionally, the report noted that an estimated 92 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda have been identified. “Of these, 90 percent are receiving HIV treatment, and among those on antiretroviral therapy, 94 percent are virally suppressed,” the report showed. According to the World Health Organization, about 1.2 million Ugandans aged 15 to 64 are living with HIV.
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