HIV/AIDS fight should reach vulnerable people: UN official

Angola-based coordinator of the UN agencies Pierre-Francois Pirlot has said that the action of combating the spread of HIV/AIDS should not be restricted to the capital cities, as the disease affects mostly the most vulnerable people in rural areas.

Addressing the first Congress on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS here on Tuesday, The UN coordinator said the fight against the epidemic can not be won in the capitals alone and there is need for national plans reaching out to the most remote areas where there is no knowledge of the disease.

The UN coordinator was quoted by local media as saying on Wednesday that the HIV/AIDS pandemic propagates poverty and has a major impact on the most vulnerable people, adding that this is because of socio-economic constraints this group is faced with, concerning education and essential medicines.

Pierre-Francois Pirlot, the high rate of contamination of women with HIV and STI in many regions of the world can only be altered through deep social, religious and economic changes.

In addition to socio-economic matters, the source mentioned the lack of incentives for the health workers with an acceptable level of education as one of the factors that arrest the expansion of the sanitary networks and a quality service.

He stated that although Angola has still an open window (less than 5 percent of infections) to avert high levels of prevalence, unlike other southern Africa countries, the risk of propagation is imminent due to a major circulation of people.

To him, Angola has a specific responsibility that represents a hope for the other countries of the region as, with a strong leadership and multidimensional and coordinated response, it can control the pandemic and bring the rates of infection down close to zero.

The first Congress on ITS and HIV/AIDS jointly promoted by Eduardo dos Santos Foundation (FESA) and the Health Ministry of Angola is going under the motto "United for a healthy life."

The meeting is mainly intended to analyze the situation in each of the member countries of the Portuguese Speaking Community (CPLP) , based on progresses attained, the difficulties faced in the implementation of strategic plans of action at medium and long terms and reinforce cooperation.

For over four days, the participants will tackle such topics as "The epidemiological situation of STI/HIV/AIDS in the CPLP countries," "Strategy of prevention and control of STI/AIDS," " Role of the universities in the research projects," "Financing to STI/HIV/AIDS fight programs" and others.

The holding of the meeting in Luanda is part of the effort of the government of Angola in the fight against STI/AIDS as a serious national commitment.

Despite being in the zone of the world most affected by HIV/ AIDS, with 75 percent of the infections, Angola has a rate lower than 5 percent and 400,000 people infected.

The provinces of Uije, Cunene, Kuando-Kubango, Luanda, Lunda- Norte and Lunda-Sul are the most affected.

CPLP groups Angola, Brazil, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe and East Timor.

Source: Xinhua