HIV- AIDS Burundi is one of the most grievous problems threatening the health conditions in this African country. HIV- AIDS was declared as a national emergency in Burundi by the president of the country in 1999. According to 2003 estimate, the Adult Prevalence Rate of HIV- AIDS in Burundi was almost 6%.
The number of people living with HIV- AIDS in Burundi is approximately 250,000 and most of the HIV- AIDS affected people are from the rural parts of the country. About 25,000 people in Burundi are estimated to have died from HIV- AIDS. The prevalence rate of HIV- AIDS in Burundi had increased to an alarming 7.5% in 2001.
The Ministry of Health of Burundi has formulated a number of policies to ensure that the situation is kept under control. A National AIDS Control Committee was created in 2001 followed by the setting up of the National AIDS Control Council in 2002 to organize the proper methods of putting up a strong resistance against the spread of HIV- AIDS in Burundi.
Various Non-Governmental Organizations have grouped together to form the Burundian Alliance for AIDS Control to support the governmental endeavors to fight HIV- AIDS in Burundi. Other associations fighting for the same include the Network of Women's Associations for AIDS Control, etc. International organizations helping Burundi to fight AIDS include the following:
World Health Organization
UNICEF
World Bank
The steps taken to prevent the spread of HIV- AIDS in Burundi are based on the increase of awareness about the disease and the ways in which HIV- AIDS is transmitted from one to another. Burundians are being educated about safe sexual habits, use of condoms, pursuing of healthy living habits and such other things.
Antiretroviral therapy to treat patients affected by HIV- AIDS in Burundi is being put into large scale usage in the country. Knowledge about the disease and ways to prevent it are being propagated by the government in schools and colleges of Burundi in order to curb the threats of HIV- AIDS in Burundi.
