New HIV innovations could help reduce cases in Africa, official says
Nyirenda said African countries also record the highest number of HIV-related deaths, which account for 95% of the world's total.
LUSAKA, Zambia— New innovations in HIV can contribute to a reduction in the number of people living and dying with HIV/AIDS in African countries, according to the manager of strategic partnerships and capacity development at the European and Development Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, writes Wezzie Mwangonde.
Dr. Thomas Nyirenda said statistics show the world records at least 36 million HIV cases each year, but 70% of people living with HIV are in Africa.
Nyirenda said African countries also record the highest number of HIV-related deaths, which account for 95% of the world's total.
"In a world, if you look at a number of people who have died because of HIV 95 percent of them would have died in Africa, thus a very big problem," Nyirenda said.
He added that despite challenges in reducing HIV/AIDS cases and deaths in African countries, such as attitudes, knowledge, and cultural beliefs, investment in measuring the impact of strategies and finding new innovations will help encourage more people to get tested for HIV, which remains a challenge in most African nations.
This year's annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa will be held in November in Lusaka, Zambia, under the theme "Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture."