Focussing on HIV/AIDS how are they being tackled in the East African Nations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania In relation to government intervention policies and international health organisations and have the outcomes been of a success - Essay Example

For example in Tanzania, there has been a significant drop in the rate of infection by HIV/AIDs in 2007. During 2005, the rate of infection by HIV/AIDs was as high as 7 percent in Tanzania, whereas in 2007 the rate became 5.8 percent (Tanzania controls HIV/AIDS). In Uganda, on the other hand, prevalence of the disease has started to decline since early 1990s and at present it has reached more or less a stabilized phase with moderate level of HIV/AIDs prevalence rate. However, in near future, the rate of HIV/AIDs infections may also experience a rising trend once again.

Currently around 5.4 percent of Adult citizen of Uganda are infected by HIV/Aids compared to 15 percent in 1991 (HIV and Aids in Uganda). In Kenya also, there has been a huge decline in the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDs among adult populations. For example in 2006, the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDs in Kenya was only 5.1 percent as against 14 percent in 1998. In a number of studies it has been found that although casual heterosexual sex remains the prime route of transmission of the virus in African nations, particularly in Kenya, gay males are more likely to be infected than others, so the policy makers are also targeting the gay people with special attention.

According to a survey conducted by Kenya AIDS Project, around 33.5 percent and 49.2 percent of female and male sex workers were found to be infected with HIV. This Project is now delivering voluntary counseling and testing services to the sex workers. (The Henry Kaiser Family Foundation. 2007; Kenyas HIV/AIDS Policy, 2004; Gay male sex causes 15% of HIV in Kenya. 2008; Neondo, 2009) A number of studies have been conducted to find out the factors that have played important roles in reversing trend (declining) in the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDs in these east African countries as opposed to other African nations.

One of the important factors has been found to be increasing