Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 63 415 563 at noon Wednesday July 13
Asia faces a 150% increase in HIV/Aids infections over the next five years unless more is done, a report warns. In many countries the proportion of people infected is low but, because of the large populations of many Asian countries, those figures disguise the huge number of infections. In India, the number of people with HIV is the same as in South Africa, about five million. In Japan, where the number of infections is relatively small, the disease is spreading as fast as it is in the world’s worst affected countries. — BBC News
Condom shortage: The success of Uganda’s war on HIV/Aids may be undermined by a condom shortage as the World Bank suspends its $7,5-million funding for condom procurement next year. Health officials say the country will face a condom shortage of up to 80%. Uganda’s demand for condoms stands at 100-million units per year. ‘We have no long-term plan for procurement of condoms,” said Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, chairperson of the Aids committee in Parliament. Sources blamed the condom shortage on a change of policy, from condom use to abstinence, allegedly under the influence of the Bush administration. — The East African