Rate of New HIV/AIDS Infection Lower This Year, But Situation Far From Consoling: UNAIDS

Addis Ababa, December 4 (WIC)—Director General of the United Nation Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS UNAIDS disclosed that the rate of new HIV infection has fallen for the first time, but this was no reason for a sigh of relief because, with 3.8 million new infection this year alone, there is still a huge task ahead of leaders, especially those in Africa.

In his presentation at the African Development Forum-2000, which is in progress here, Peter Piot said, while the latest figures were positive signs that have never been witnessed in the past, the situation was far from satisfactory.

"For the first time this year, UNAIDS and WHO could announce that fewer people were infected this year than last-although 3.8 million new infections is totally unacceptable," he said.

Urging leaders to apply openness, realism and hope more vigorously, Piot said that there were still agenda crying for attention, some of which have only been slightly dealt with, while others remain untouched.

Piot indicated : "combating stigma is an unfinished agenda that need an all out effort.  It is the key challenge to leaders at all levels, as well as for each of us personally….. caring for AIDS affected children and orphans is an unfinished agenda".

UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown, on his part cited some sobering facts about the effects of the AIDS pandemic in Africa, and what he called its  "knock-on effects", which include problems caused by the death of teachers, factory workers and others in the most productive section of the society.

"In some countries, households that lose their breadwinners have seen incomes drop by 80% or more, two thirds of AIDS affected families in urban areas have been forced to cheaper housing in slum areas.  Life expectancy is falling to levels not seen since the early 1960s and in countries form Zambia to Kenya child mortality rates are expected to double", he said.

The UNDP head pointed out that the challenge posed by the disease calls for strategies, programmes that must involve one and all, for cross-cutting partnership right from the smallest unit in the community to giant multi-national companies.

In addition to the presentation by the heads of the two UN agencies, today's session saw a heated debate on the need for the giant pharmaceutical companies to make antiretroviral drugs available to Africans at affordable prices, and on the need for greater help to African governments to cope with the disease.

One delegate from South Africa admonished the such drug companies for paying little attentions to the plight of million who have fallen victim to AIDS, just because catering for this group was not as profitable as they would have liked.

In the afternoon, the delegates will broke into smaller groups, and shade light, among others, on the impact of HIV/AIDS on health care service, education sector, and the response needed cope with the situations.