UNHCR - Low HIV rates recorded at refugee camps

Health

Low HIV rates recorded at refugee camps

The East African Standard (Nairobi): By Standard Correspondent, Nairobi, 4 June 2004 – The HIV/Aids prevalence rates in Kenyan refugee camps is considerably lower compared to the general population, a research study indicates.

This is contrary to the popular misconception that refugees are fuelling the spread of the killer virus.

But despite the low figures reported within the camps, the fight against the scourge was slowly being won as evidenced by changing sexual behaviour characterised by an increased condom uptake, reduced number of partners and a decreased transnational sexual activity.

Yesterday, two United Nation's health specialists Paul Spiegel and Njogu Patterson dismissed claims that refugees spread Aids as attempts to further stigmatise communities already traumatised by discrimination and negative stereotyping.

A 2002 study indicated that Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana district, which hosts about 80,000 refugees, had a five per cent HIV/Aids prevalence rate.

Neighbouring Lodwar area, Government figures indicated, had a much higher figure of 18 per cent.

Elsewhere in Dadaab in Garissa District with a population of about 120,000 people, the HIV/Aids prevalence rate two years ago stood at 0.5 per cent while within the host community, the rate was four per cent.