UNAIDS Report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic

Zambia may become the second African country - after Uganda - to reverse a widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic, a new UNAIDS report said on Tuesday. New data in the UNAIDS "Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic" indicates that HIV prevalence among young Zambian women has fallen from 28 percent in 1996 to 24 percent in 1999 in urban areas, and from 16 percent to 12 percent in rural areas.

Both men and women were increasingly reporting safer sexual behaviour in Zambia's urban areas. "HIV prevalence continues to drop in Uganda, Africa's greatest success story in the fight against AIDS. At the end of 2001, adult prevalence had fallen to five percent, down from 8.3 percent in 1999," the Report said.

Government-supported youth prevention efforts in South Africa have led to high levels of HIV/AIDS awareness and appear to be increasing safer sexual practices among sexually active young people, it added. But the report warns that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is still in an early phase, with HIV prevalence levels in the worst affected countries climbing higher than previously believed possible.

In parts of Western and Central Africa, where infection rates have been high but relatively steady, there is now evidence of rapidly accelerating HIV spread. In Cameroon, the adult prevalence rate, which remained in the low single digits from 1988 through 1996, is now at almost 12 percent.

According to the Report, a new analysis of access to treatment shows that of the six million people in the developing world in need of anti-retroviral drug therapy, less than 4 percent were receiving antiretroviral drugs at the end of 2001.

"Access to adequate care and treatment is a right, not a privilege," said Peter Piot, UNAIDS executive director, presenting the Report at the 2002 session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. "Although real progress has been made in lowering the price of anti-retroviral therapy in the developing world, far greater action is needed by both governments and the private sector to ensure that treatment reaches those in greatest need," he added.

There were positive developments that indicated that the world was finally waking up to what it took to bring the epidemic under control, the report noted. Donor funding earmarked for fighting the epidemic had increased "six-fold" since 1998, and many countries had significantly increased their AIDS budgets. Political commitment has grown substantially in the past two years and community and religious organisations, businesses and activists are increasingly becoming involved.

"The success around the globe on preventing infection, and treating those already infected, demonstrates that it is possible to make progress against HIV/AIDS. But so far, these countries are the exception, and not the rule," Piot said.

This item is delivered to the "PlusNews" HIV/AIDS Service of the UN's IRIN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.]