The global HIV epidemic has affected millions of lives. According to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2023 report, over 88.4 million people have been infected with HIV since the beginning of the epidemic, and about 42.3 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
In 2023 alone, 39.9 million people globally were living with HIV, 1.3 million people became newly infected, and 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses. These figures represent significant losses in human resources, economic stability, and the disruption of social structures across societies.
HIV Situation in Uganda
In Uganda, an estimated 1.492 million people are living with HIV, with 1.3 million currently receiving treatment, according to the Ministry of Health’s 2023 estimates. The national HIV prevalence stands at 5.1% among adults aged 15 to 49 years.
Under the leadership of His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Uganda has made significant progress. AIDS-related deaths have declined by 48%, from 37,000 in 2016 to 19,000 in 2023. New HIV infections also dropped from 52,000 in 2022 to 38,000 by the end of 2023. HIV prevalence has decreased from 7.3% in 2011 to 5.1%, according to the Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) 2020. This progress is impressive, but the struggle to end AIDS by 2030 must continue.
President Museveni’s Fast-Track Objectives for Ending AIDS by 2030
In June 2017, President Museveni launched the Presidential Fast-Track Initiative for Ending AIDS by 2030. This initiative has five key pillars:
- Engage men in HIV prevention and reduce new infections, particularly among adolescent girls and young women.
- Accelerate the implementation of Test and Treat strategies and reach the Fast-Track 90-90-90 targets, especially among men and young people.
- Consolidate progress on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
- Ensure financial sustainability for the HIV and AIDS response.
- Ensure institutional effectiveness for a well-coordinated, multisectoral response.
These pillars call for accelerated interventions to end AIDS in Uganda by 2030. The goal is to achieve zero new infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma and discrimination.
The Role of Every Ugandan in Defeating AIDS
To defeat AIDS, we must unite and adopt the right ideology and interventions. Parents have a responsibility to guide and protect their children. Religious leaders must preach both health and spirituality, while teachers should impart accurate HIV information to students. The private sector must create conducive work environments for employees, and cultural leaders should guide their communities on the right path.
The ABC strategy (Abstinence for young people, Being Faithful for married couples, and Condom Use) remains relevant and effective in the fight against AIDS. Science has shown that if individuals living with HIV consistently take their ARVs, the virus can be suppressed, and they cannot transmit HIV to others.
The Need for Mindset Change and Awareness
We need to change our mindset and remind our youth that HIV is still a threat. It remains costly to treat, and taking medication can have side effects. Currently, ARVs alone cost about 1.2 trillion UGX to treat people living with HIV. It is essential that people are informed about protecting themselves from risky sexual behaviors and avoiding harmful cultural practices, such as wife inheritance and gender-based violence, which can increase the risk of HIV transmission.
Empowering Youth for a Better Future
To end AIDS by 2030, we must empower our youth with life skills and ensure they stay in school to complete their education. For those out of school, government programs should provide alternative livelihoods to prevent them from falling into exploitative situations where sex may be exchanged for services.
Let us unite to tackle the key drivers of HIV infections in our country. We must support people living with HIV to lead healthy and productive lives. As the President has guided, we all need to stand together and be counted in the fight to end AIDS by 2030.
The Writer:
Etii Tom
Uganda AIDS Commission
Email: tom.etii@uac.go.ug
Phone: 0772826566
