Research published in medical journal the Lancet discloses, rates of HIV infection among gays in some African countries are 10-times higher than that of the general male population, with doctors saying, the stigma, poor access to treatment or testing are to blamed.

Political, religious and social hostility towards homosexuality is entrenched in many countries, which is responsible for breeding isolation, harassment and prejudice, resulting in risky sexual practices among gay communities, according to the report.

Calling for greater education and resources in fighting HIV, the report says the risks are not limited to gay men alone, as many of those infected also have female sexual partners.

The Oxford University researchers found the prevalence of HIV/Aids among gay men in sub-Saharan African to be 'driven by cultural, religious and political unwillingness to accept (gay men) as equal members of society'.

Lead researcher Adrian Smith told the BBC there was 'profound stigma and social hostility at every level of society concerning either same-sex behaviours amongst men, or homosexuality'. As a consequence, the group becomes extremely hard to reach, even though gay male sex has always been acknowledged as being particularly dangerous in terms of contracting HIV / Aids.

That was not all, as a rule, gay men are also more likely to be a part of other high-risk behaviours, e. g. sex work, having multiple partners, including being in contact with intravenous drug use.

George Kanuma, a gay rights activist in Burundi, told the BBC many men 'hide their sexual orientation" to get married and have children, but continue to have sex with men. Most of them know that you can contract HIV/Aids or any infection when you are making sex with women, but not when you are having sex with another man'.

Which is why, there is a desperate need to deliver basic packages of HIV prevention, including ensuring a continuous supply of condoms. As well, the need is also there for sensitising, educating and training those involved in HIV, interfacing with men who have sex with men, and for educating those involved in care and prevention activities.

According to figures issued in 2008 by the UN agency UNAIDS, around 33-million people have HIV, two-thirds of whom live sub-Saharan Africa.