Rates of those living with HIV are still on the
increase.There are now an estimated 39.5 million people living with HIV worldwide, according to recent UNAids statistics.In 2006, 4.3 million new infections have been reported with 65%
of new infections occurring in Sub Saharan Africa. 2.9 million people have died this year from AIDS related illnesses.As a result Concern are upscaling their HIV&AIDS
programming. Concern is currently implementing 24 HIV&AIDS projects in 12 countries, and in accordance with its strategic plan will be increasing this to 20 countries by 2010. Worryingly, countries that had shown promising signs of reducing new infection rates, such as Uganda are now showing a growth in new infections. "Basically we need to work harder and
faster to combat the spread of HIV." says Breda Gahan, Concern's Global HIV&AIDS Adviser.Positive results of HIV prevention have been witnessed, in some African countries; with a drop in
prevalence recorded in Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. This can be accounted for by changes in sexual behaviour; less partners and increasing usage of condoms. Proving
that HIV&AIDS prevention programming is working but needs to be increased to reach the most vulnerable to compete with the speed with which the epidemic spreads.Breda Gahan is still
optimistic. "HIV is technically 100% preventable. We all have the capacity to protect ourselves if given the correct knowledge, power, respect and resources. We're all part of the problem and we can
all be part of the solution. "We know what works, let's just do it a lot better and a lot faster so that we can have a positive impact. We need to believe that we can stop this epidemic. It is vital
to sustain hope; otherwise we're going nowhere."
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
