HIV-AIDS takes on ‘female face’

by Staff Writer

Despite the ever increasing cases of HIV-AIDS infections, there is still no reliable source of statistics regarding the devastating epidemic.

Retired Major General, Herman Lupogo, who heads the Tanzanian Commission for HIV-AIDS (TACAIDS) revealed this in Arusha, last Monday, while officially opening the sub-Regional Workshop on Empowerment against HIV-AIDS.

"People have not been very willing to be tested for the virus", said Lupogo. "We have relied on a few sentinel sites, which are very few and far apart!"

According to the TACAIDS chairman, the existing statistical data highly depended on people who have been volunteering to donate blood and pregnant women seeking medical attention in local hospitals.

"So, when we say that, about 2.5 million people were HIV positive by the end of 2002, countrywide, it may not be the whole truth", he added.

Lupogo pointed out that, it was due to this, that the current statistics show that the female population are the most affected victims of the disease.

A total of 1,655 people were tested for HIV at the ANGAZA Centre of Arusha between February and May this year among them 116 were found to be HIV positive.

The ANGAZA site manager, Beatrice Mollel said although their HIV testing procedures are graded according to individual age groups, women beat their male counterparts in the rate of infection.

"This therefore", concluded Lupogo in his report, "Informs us that, AIDS here, takes on a female face."

To rectify the situation about HIV infection rate statistics, Lupogo said his Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Health, assisted with external technical and financial assistance, are embarking on a nationwide survey in order to come up with more reliable data.

Last modified: September 11, 2003.
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