Uganda: Uganda Warns of Persistent HIV Infections Among Young Women Ahead of 2030 Target

What the report says

Uganda is warning that new HIV infections remain stubbornly high among adolescent girls and young women even as the country makes broad progress in testing and treatment, according to a report distributed by AllAfrica from Nile Post. The update quotes Uganda AIDS Commission Board Chairperson Ruth Senyonyi as saying the country must close prevention gaps if it is to meet its goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The article says Uganda’s latest population-based survey estimates about 1.5 million adults age 15 and older are living with HIV, with national prevalence at 5.9%. It also cites high treatment coverage and viral suppression among diagnosed patients, but notes that the country still records about 34,000 new infections each year. More than a third of those new cases, the report says, are among young people, especially girls and young women.

Senyonyi said better prevention messaging, more accurate information and stronger efforts to address risky behavior are needed. These issues are expected to be central at the National HIV and AIDS Symposium set for November 16 to 18 at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, where researchers, officials and health partners will review progress and gaps in the response.

The report also highlights concerns about long-term financing as donor support changes. Uganda AIDS Commission has drafted a sustainability roadmap, and a financing dialogue during the symposium is expected to discuss ways to support prevention, testing, treatment and care with more domestic funding.