Encouraging Signs in Africa's Anti-AIDS Fight: WHO Official

In his World AIDS Day statement, Luis Gomes Sambo, the World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, pointed out some encouraging news. While acknowledging that "Africa still remains the region of the world most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic," Sambo added, "There are signs of hope: There are indications of a decline in adult HIV prevalence in a number of countries. These, he said, include Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Rwanda. The number of HIV-positive Africans accessing AIDS drug treatment has grown from less than 300,000 in 2003 to more than 1 million by this June, he said. In sub-Saharan African, however, only 23 percent of those in need of antiretrovirals are receiving them, he said. An estimated 2.8 million more Africans will become infected this year.

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