Understanding the role of targeted interventions in high risk communities such as fishing communities in Uganda
In Uganda, fisherfolk communities (FFCs) of Lake Victoria have very high HIV-1 incidence relative to the general population (GP). However, while its expected that geographically focused and intensified interventions in the FFCs would result in a decrease of new HIV-1 infections, the impact this would have on HIV incidence in the GP is not known. This is important because interventions targeted towards key populations are believed to play a key role in controlling epidemics in the GP. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that targeted interventions such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) and safe male circumcision (SMC) in the FFCs leads to a decrease in new HIV-1 infections in the GP. Using molecular phylogenetic and mathematical modelling, we show that for successful implementation, targeted interventions ought to be tailored to a particular setting, according to the characteristics of the epidemic. In the second part of the talk, a brief overview of the nature of work currently being undertaking in influenza epidemiology Uganda will be given.
John Kitayimbwa is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Mathematics, Makerere University.
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