An HIV/Aids-free Africa in the near future

THIS World Aids day, experts shine a light on how to end the epidemic by 2023.

To this end, the focus is on eradicating barriers that inhibit HIV care and treatments within communities and providing support through life-long treatment, especially the most vulnerable population – teenage girls.

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It has been recently reported that 1 300 adolescent girls and young women are infected with HIV on a weekly basis.

Furthermore, the Infectious Disease Institute in Uganda reveals this challenge to be a continental social issue, as 63% of all new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa are girls between 15 and 19 years old. Patriarchal society norms and gender-based violence (GBV) are just two factors that pose a high risk of HIV infection in young girls.

“Orphanhood is also a risk factor because of a lack of guidance and a higher risk of GBV,” said Dr Veni Naidu, HIV community services lead with Broad Reach Health Development.

“Girls are often reluctant to get tested or treated for HIV as they fear judgement from their parents, caregivers, peers and health workers.”

Dr Andrew Kambugu, executive director of the Uganda Infectious Disease Institute (IDI) said, to overcome these challenges, the healthcare community needs to be innovative.

“We must think outside the box to reach key populations, for example, through moonlight or drop-in clinics” said Kambugu.

“For instance, we successfully reached the remote fishing communities on Lake Victoria through drone-powered drug deliveries.”

Kambugu said the data proved that it was truly possible to reach epidemic control in our lifetime.

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