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Globally, young people are among the populations most at risk of and affected by HIV and AIDS. UNAIDS estimated about 40% of new adult infections occurring among young people in 2006. This situation might continue unabated unless causes of vulnerability to infection among them are clearly identified and addressed within respective contexts.
The dynamics of the epidemic among young people demand for a holistic approach to address both individuals and the social, cultural and economic environments around individuals to enhance social change. There is an urgent need to factor HIV, AIDS and sexual reproductive health issues into develop-ment programming to contextualize interventions, promote universal coverage and optimal resource utilization. Yet, the

HIV and AIDS epidemic has largely been addressed from emergency approaches. For example, programmes especial-ly for prevention tend to spe-cifically target individual behav-iours with limited linkages to development programmes that address environments and young people’s vulnerability.
Uganda is among those coun-tries that have registered suc-cess in responding to HIV/AIDS. Specifically the country

has demonstrated that young people can adopt positive be-haviours and reverse HIV inci-dence and prevalence rates.
This paper presents a synthesis on the status of young people in relation to health generally and HIV and AIDS in particular and the resulting impact on develop-ment.

Link to full article:http://www.aidsuganda.org/documents/comnwealth.pdf