By Emmanuel Opio Communications Officer, Kapelebyong
TESO: The stakeholders in Teso Sub region have been urged to reignite the fight against HIV to contain the rising number of new infections in the region.
The call was raised by Dr. Sr. Akiror Mary Grace, Deputy Head of RDC Secretariat while addressing the Communications Officer, District Health Educators and HIV focal point on HIV Communication, in Soroti City this week.
Dr. Sr. Akiror expressed that despite significant efforts by the government of Uganda in the fight against the killer disease, there are still new infections among adolescents with at-least six people getting infected per hour in the country.
Statistics from Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) show that Soroti has the highest HIV prevalence rate in Teso sub-region at 13.3 percent against the national rate of 5.1 percent.
In Kaberamaido District the prevelance rate stands at 4.8 percent Katakwi 3.9 percent, Amuria 3.2, Soroti District 2.7, Kumi 2.5 percent, Bukedea 2.2 percent while Ngora and Serere tie at 2.0 percent.
“We need to re-energize efforts to reach teenagers with HIV prevention messages as we encourage those in care to continue abiding by the medical prescriptions,” Dr. Sr. Akiror urged.
She implored the stakeholders to continue being patriotic in their service such that the vision of ending HIV by 2030 comes to pass.
Dr. Zepher Kanyabakabo, Director Policy Research and Programming at Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) underscored the importance of collaborative and strategic communications to end the HIV prevalence in the country.
“We should ensure that our messages on HIV prevention are accurate, clear and resonate with the right target population,” Dr. Zepher urged.
He encouraged the communicators to make the best use of social media, radios, youth corners and barazas for disseminating information about HIV prevention in the country.
Chemutai James Small, the Ag. Resident City Commissioner of Soroti, applauded UAC for the timely meeting and selection of participants.
He pledged to ensure maximum utilization of government radio time to champion the fight against HIV pandemic.
“The war against HIV has just begun. I implore the communicators to continue spreading the message about ending AIDS by 2030,” Chemutai said.
He also commended the leadership of President Museveni for the able leadership exhibited in ending HIV prevalence in the country.
The participants pledged to continue to factor in new workable approaches to ensure the fight against HIV comes to reality.
The Presidential Fast Track Initiative (PFTI) to end AIDS by 2030 was launched by His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2017.
The end of the PFTI is a catalyst for fast tracking the national efforts towards ending AIDS by addressing key bottlenecks in the HIV response.
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