Burundi: After HIV/AIDS 90–90–90 targets, place to 95-95-95…
“Burundi attained a remarkable success in reducing HIV associated morbidity, mortality and transmission as well as improving the quality of life of people living with HIV,” said Sylvie Nzeyimana, Minister of Health, at a public conference on productive health, organized on 17 September.
According to her, people living with HIV who know their HIV status have increased from 40% in 2010 to 84% currently. “That increase from 40 to 84% proves that we have taken a big step forward, “said Minister of Health.
Regarding the diagnosed HIV-positive persons receiving sustainable anti-retroviral treatment, the Minister said they have increased from 38% in 2010 to 83% today, while 89% of them have achieved viral suppression.
The Minister is delighted that thanks to these positive results in the fight against HIV / AIDS, living conditions of seropositive persons have considerably improved. “They have good health and conduct their activities normally,” he says.
Minister Nzeyimana says by 2008, people infected with HIV / AIDS accounted for 6% while since 2019, HIV-positive persons represent 0.9% of the Burundian population. He, however, indicates that some provinces especially in big cities, people living with HIV / AIDS account for around 2%.
In 2014, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and partners launched the 90–90–90 targets which aim to diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive persons, provide antiretroviral therapy for 90% of those diagnosed and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated by 2020.
Fleury Patience NKENJARARE
