Dramatic decrease in HIV rates in African countries

A study by UNAIDS found the presence of the relentless HIV disease in young people aged between 15 and 24 has been decreasing in 16 out of the 25 African countries most affected by the disease. Many of these countries are underway to reaching a 25% reduction target in HIV/AIDS.

"Young people have shown that they can be agents of change in the prevention revolution," the report said.

The report appealed to governments worldwide to learn from the outstanding progress, and take action by providing programmes for sexual health education, availability of condoms and access to HIV testing.

According to UNAIDS, around 900,000 infections affected young people in 2008, the majority of which cases were present in African women. An estimated 5 million young people around the world are living with the HIV virus, which causes the incurable and often fatal AIDS disease. HIV is spread during sex, by mixing blood, through breast milk and contaminated needles.

The report said some of the most evident declines have been seen in Kenya, followed by Botswana, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe, achieving a goal agreed in 2001 to reduce HIV in 15-24 year olds by 25% by 2010. Other countries namely Burundi, Lesotho, Rwanda, Swaziland, the Bahamas and Haiti are all "likely to achieve" it.