More research needed into HIV/Aids

More action needs to be taken by the international community with regards to research into HIV/Aids treatment and prevention a medical expert has warned.

Professor Joep Lange, from the Academic Medical Centre in the Netherlands told attendants at the launch of the Interact programme in Mulago, the largest hospital in Uganda, that current funding allows for small steps rather than the bold leaps that the HIV pandemic requires.

He said that many patients were still not being provided with access to HIV treatment, while those who were, had become dependent on cheap fixed doses that were failing to prevent early mortality.

"In 2006, there were 4.3 million new infections worldwide. We may never be able to provide universal access to anti-retroviral therapy if we are unable to bring down the numbers of new infections significantly," he warned.

Despite the best efforts of the government and health authorities to educate the population, a survey conducted by The Straight Talk Campaign has revealed that one in five young people in Uganda are potentially eschewing safer practices because they believe there is a cure for Aids.

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