Mozambique To Revise National HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategy, Health Minister Says
The Mozambican government has decided to revise its national HIV/AIDS prevention strategy after finding that the current efforts have not been effective in controlling the disease, Health Minister Ivo Garrido, recently said, AIM/AllAfrica.com reports. Garrido, who also serves as the spokesperson for the Steering Council of the country's National AIDS Council, said a meeting of the council held on Monday highlighted 10 areas that should guide the revision.
He said that the AIDS council will seek to increase coordination between HIV/AIDS advocacy groups in the country; develop a mechanism for gauging the effectiveness of HIV prevention strategies; and improve HIV counseling and testing programs. The review also will address the definition of "high-risk groups," Garrido said. He said that he believes "almost everybody" is at risk but added that a task group was established to investigate this issue.
Garrido said the Steering Council hopes to have "proposals on coordination" by early next year. The country in 2004 had an estimated HIV prevalence of 16.2% among adults ages 15 to 49 (AIM/AllAfrica.com, 11/14).