Kigali, 2 September 2009 -- Countries in the WHO African Region have made modest but steady progress in accelerating HIV prevention following their adoption, in 2006, of the Regional strategy for accelerating HIV prevention.

This indication was given today in a report by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, to the 59th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa taking place in Kigali, Rwanda.

Dr Sambo says in the report that between 2007 and mid 2008, all districts in the Region reported having at least one HIV testing and counselling (HCT) facility. In 2007, 40 of the 46 Member States reported that 100% of blood used for transfusion was screened for HIV, compared to 98% in 2004.

Other indicators of progress cited by Dr Sambo are: a 34% uptake of Prevention of Mother to Child (PMTC) interventions in 2007, up from 10% in 2005; placement of more than 2.6 million patients on antiretroviral therapy by June 2008, representing a 24% increase in just six months, and a rise in the rate of "condom use for last high-risk sexual encounter" among people aged 15-49 years, ranging 26% to 71% for males and 14% to 47% for females.

Other notable developments include initiatives to scale up male circumcision for HIV prevention in 12 countries, analysis of modes of epidemic transmissions and responses for strengthening HIV prevention in 14 countries, and implementation of school-based HIV prevention through training of teachers in 25 countries. Countries, particularly in Eastern and Southern Africa, have also taken measures to address concurrent multiple sexual partnerships, which is the main driver of HIV transmission.

The Regional strategy for accelerating HIV prevention includes targets to be met by 2010, particularly in the areas of HIV testing and counselling; blood safety; PMTCT of HIV; prevention and control of sexually-transmitted infections; condom use, and access to comprehensive prevention, treatment and care.

For more information, please contact :

Technical contact
Dr Rui Vaz 
E-mail: vazr [at] afro.who.int (vazr[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int) 
Tel. +47 241 39314

Media contact
Samuel Ajibola
Email: ajibolas [at] afro.who.int (ajibolas[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int) 
Tel.: +47 241 39378