Uganda plans to test 500,000 people for HIV annually by 2012

The Uganda AIDS Commission in a report released last week said it plans to test and counsel 500,000 people for HIV annually by 2012 and provide opportunistic infection prevention and treatment services to 90% of HIV-positive people in the country, Uganda's New Vision reports.

The report -- released at a two-day workshop attended by officials and HIV/AIDS advocates in Fort Portal, Uganda -- says the commission aims to increase access to antiretroviral drugs to 90% of HIV-positive people who require treatment.

It also says HIV testing and counseling will be available at 107 hospitals and 160 health centers across the country. The strategies include increasing HIV testing and counseling.

There are about 1.1 million HIV-positive people in Uganda, and the number of cases is expected to increase to 1.8 million by 2012 "at the current rate of 135,000 new infections annually," the report says (Thawite, New Vision/AllAfrica.com, 1/25).

The commission also plans to improve services for people coinfected with HIV and tuberculosis, Xinhua News Agency reports (Xinhua News Agency, 1/25).