HIV infection rate falls in Tanzania.

15 Jun, 2008

The rate of infection of the AIDS-causing virus HIV in Tanzania has dropped from 7 per cent in 2003 to 5.8 per cent last year, according to national bureau of statistics figures. This translates into a current infected population of around 2.3 million people against a total population of around 40 million.

The rate of infection among men has fallen from 7 to 4.7 per cent and among women from 8 to 6.8 per cent over the same period.

The drop is the result of several HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns launched by the government and non-governmental organizations, including voluntary screening among the population for the HIV virus.