A study by scientists at Oxford University has found that 10% of children infected with HIV don’t develop Aids, even without treatment.
Tests on 170 HIV positive South African children revealed that their immune systems were behaving in a similar way to primates that had the virus.
Experts said the findings could be the first signs of people co-evolving with HIV and could eventually lead to new therapies for all patients infected with the virus.
The first HIV victim in Uganda was identified at Kasensero Fish Landing Site in Rakai District in early 1980s.
Recent findings by the Ministry of Health indicate that although the national HIV/Aids viral suppression rate is at 91 per cent, children under five years and adolescents have a lower viral suppression rate at 69 per cent.
Drug resistance. According to Ministry of Health, 50 per cent of children living with HIV/Aids, who are started on Nevirapine, a first line treatment, suffer from drug resistance.
HIV prevalence. Uganda has 950,000 children estimated to be HIV-positive, 62,900 of whom are on treatment. Of these, 3,000 are on second line and 48 on third line of treatment. Another estimated 7,000 to 8,000 children who are born with HIV have been exposed to Nevirapine.
