Third population-based HIV impact assessment launched

29 May 2025, 4:38 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

The Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) 2024/2025 has been launched to evaluate the effectiveness of HIV treatment and prevention programs in the country. During the launch at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Wandegeya, Kampala, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health, said the survey will examine key HIV-related health indicators such as new infections, viral suppression levels, and other health indicators.

“The previous surveys helped to map out the burden of HIV in Uganda,” Dr. Aceng said. She further pointed out, “We’ve seen a significant decrease in HIV prevalence and deaths. For example, among the elderly, HIV prevalence decreased from 7.2% in 2010 to 5.3% in 2023. Among women, it decreased from 8.7% to 6.5%, and among men, it decreased from 5.8% to 3%. Deaths due to HIV also declined from 52,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2023 among adults, and from 15,000 to 3,500 among children below 15.”

Dr. Aceng expressed concern that, despite this progress, 120,000 people living with HIV are not on treatment and remain unidentified. “We’re still on the path to ending HIV by 2030,” she said. “This survey will help us monitor a nationally representative sample and describe the uptake of key preventive care and treatment services.”

The survey, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), will visit 6,685 randomly selected households and interview approximately 15,000 individuals aged 15 and older. Dr. Samuel Biraro, the project manager of UPHIA 2024/2025, noted that the survey teams have been well-trained and are prepared to achieve the main objective—assessing the proportion of people living with HIV who are virally suppressed in each region. “This survey will be ready in 12 weeks,” he added.

According to Ambassador William Popp, the U.S. has invested over 11 trillion shillings in Uganda’s health sector through various U.S. agencies, including PEPFAR. “The U.S. continues to prioritise the health of Ugandans,” he said. “We’ve allocated $10 million for this survey, which will help us track progress toward the 95-95-95 goals.”

The survey will also assess the prevalence of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and obesity among the general population and people living with HIV. Prof. Rhoda Wanyenza, a renowned researcher from the Makerere School of Public Health, noted that the survey aims to reach a nationally representative sample of households across Uganda.

The survey is expected to provide valuable insights into the current state of the HIV epidemic in the country.