May 2012 in Uganda, Mozambique, & Ethiopia

Photo: An Ongoing Battle
AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

Twelve year old Grace, a girl suffering from the AIDS virus, is attended to at a hospital in Soroti, Uganda.Twelve year old Grace, a girl suffering from the AIDS virus, is attended to at a hospital in Soroti, Uganda.
Jacqueline Niyifasha is one of nearly 100,000 HIV positive people in Rwanda who are supported with ARV medication by the Global Fund.Jacqueline Niyifasha is one of nearly 100,000 HIV positive people in Rwanda who are supported with ARV medication by the Global Fund.
A patient tests for HIV in a clinic supported by PEPFAR and the Global Fund in Mererani, Tanzania.A patient tests for HIV in a clinic supported by PEPFAR and the Global Fund in Mererani, Tanzania.
Circumcision has become popular among men in Kigali, Rwanda and across Africa. The procedure, funded by the Global Fund, has led to a 60% decrease of transmission of the HIV virus from women to men.Circumcision has become popular among men in Kigali, Rwanda and across Africa. The procedure, funded by the Global Fund, has led to a 60% decrease of transmission of the HIV virus from women to men.
A laboratory technician analyses blood samples for CD-4 count in Kitwe, Zambia.A laboratory technician analyses blood samples for CD-4 count in Kitwe, Zambia.
Aid workers from the UK feed a malnourished infant battling HIV and pneumonia in an orphanage in Moshi, Tanzania.Aid workers from the UK feed a malnourished infant battling HIV and pneumonia in an orphanage in Moshi, Tanzania.
Nutritionist Claudette Kayitesi counsels François Iyamuremye as he receives his monthly anti-retroviral medication in Kigali, Rwanda. Nutritionist Claudette Kayitesi counsels François Iyamuremye as he receives his monthly anti-retroviral medication in Kigali, Rwanda.
Thierry (r) and his sister Lyzette (l) sit together in their home in Kayenzi, Rwanda. Though Thierry was born after his parents were diagnosed with HIV, his status is negative thanks to Global Fund-supported Rwandan government health programs.Thierry (r) and his sister Lyzette (l) sit together in their home in Kayenzi, Rwanda. Though Thierry was born after his parents were diagnosed with HIV, his status is negative thanks to Global Fund-supported Rwandan government health programs.
Gertrude Nyambe, a Catholic Relief Services volunteer caregiver, discuses ARV medication with Munalula Nyambe (l) and his mother Mufaweli Nyambe (r), a family living with HIV in Mongu, Zambia.Gertrude Nyambe, a Catholic Relief Services volunteer caregiver, discuses ARV medication with Munalula Nyambe (l) and his mother Mufaweli Nyambe (r), a family living with HIV in Mongu, Zambia.
A child-victim of the AIDS virus struggles to survive in a rural health center in Amuria, Uganda.A child-victim of the AIDS virus struggles to survive in a rural health center in Amuria, Uganda.
Adolescent girls attend an after-school HIV awareness class in Iganga, Uganda. In the last twenty years the country has seen its HIV prevalence rate tumble from near 25% to 8%.Adolescent girls attend an after-school HIV awareness class in Iganga, Uganda. In the last twenty years the country has seen its HIV prevalence rate tumble from near 25% to 8%.
Children queue to wash their hands at Light in Africa children's home in Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Region. Hit hard by the HIV/AIDS outbreak of the early 1990's, the area was left with a generation of orphans. Children queue to wash their hands at Light in Africa children's home in Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Region. Hit hard by the HIV/AIDS outbreak of the early 1990's, the area was left with a generation of orphans.
  • Twelve year old Grace, a girl suffering from the AIDS virus, is attended to at a hospital in Soroti, Uganda.
  • Jacqueline Niyifasha is one of nearly 100,000 HIV positive people in Rwanda who are supported with ARV medication by the Global Fund.
  • A patient tests for HIV in a clinic supported by PEPFAR and the Global Fund in Mererani, Tanzania.
  • Circumcision has become popular among men in Kigali, Rwanda and across Africa. The procedure, funded by the Global Fund, has led to a 60% decrease of transmission of the HIV virus from women to men.
  • A laboratory technician analyses blood samples for CD-4 count in Kitwe, Zambia.
  • Aid workers from the UK feed a malnourished infant battling HIV and pneumonia in an orphanage in Moshi, Tanzania.
  • Nutritionist Claudette Kayitesi counsels François Iyamuremye as he receives his monthly anti-retroviral medication in Kigali, Rwanda.
  • Thierry (r) and his sister Lyzette (l) sit together in their home in Kayenzi, Rwanda. Though Thierry was born after his parents were diagnosed with HIV, his status is negative thanks to Global Fund-supported Rwandan government health programs.
  • Gertrude Nyambe, a Catholic Relief Services volunteer caregiver, discuses ARV medication with Munalula Nyambe (l) and his mother Mufaweli Nyambe (r), a family living with HIV in Mongu, Zambia.
  • A child-victim of the AIDS virus struggles to survive in a rural health center in Amuria, Uganda.
  • Adolescent girls attend an after-school HIV awareness class in Iganga, Uganda. In the last twenty years the country has seen its HIV prevalence rate tumble from near 25% to 8%.
  • Children queue to wash their hands at Light in Africa children's home in Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Region. Hit hard by the HIV/AIDS outbreak of the early 1990's, the area was left with a generation of orphans.

The AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa is still ongoing. While prevention and treatment methods have proved extremely effective and far fewer number of people are dying from the disease than 10 years ago, more work is needed to scale-up the availability of anti-retroviral medication to more victims on the continent. Funding by donor agencies like the The Gates Foundation, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, UNAIDS, and PEPFAR remain the primary sources for battling the epidemic. These agencies in turn fund grants to government programs and NGOs who carry out on-the-ground work ranging from testing and counseling, educational awareness programs, ARV distribution, to palliative care for those too ill to leave their homes. Following the Global Financial crisis, many countries have scaled back contributions to agencies and foundations fighting the treatment and spread of AIDS. Consequently, enrollment in ARV medication has had to be scaled back in a number of countries, including Uganda, where the death toll and HIV prevalence has again begun to climb.