HEALTH minister Dr. Stephen Malinga has refuted statistics quoted in the budget that put the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate at 7.1%.

Malinga on Friday said the rate quoted by finance minister Ezra Suruma had created some apprehension in the public that the number of people contracting HIV/AIDS was rising.

While presenting the budget on Thursday, Suruma said, "In respect of HIV/AIDS, a national sero-survey showed that prevalence has increased from 6.1% five years ago to 7.1%. This calls for scaling up on interventions to reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence especially among the vulnerable groups."

But Malinga said, "I have consulted with the ministry of health officials. The correct HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is 6.4%."

He was officiating at the launch of HIV/AIDS posters in Kampala to mark 25 years of fighting against HIV/AIDS in the Commonwealth countries.