Youth ask gov't to extend HIV/AIDS services to communities

Youth have asked government and other stakeholders involved in the HIV/AIDS fight to consider extending HIV/AIDS services into communities through outreaches to attract more youth to test for HIV/AIDS.

The youth revealed that they fear going to health centres to test for HIV/AIDS because some health workers are rude, fear that their results will be revealed and also, do not have transport to go to health centres to test.

James Mwesige, 25, who had come to test for HIV/AIDS said "I have been planning to test for AIDS but have been fearing to go to a health centre alone, but because I saw many age mates coming to test during this health camp, I have also decided to join them, test and find out my HIV status," he said

"With health camps, more youth respond positively and mostly turn up in big numbers to test for HIV/AIDS, to get family planning services like condoms, it is therefore important that government and other stakeholders consider extending HIV/AIDS services to communities beyond health centres," he added.

 Pius Mukisa Ntwatwa, 18, said he has always had the desire to test for HIV/AIDS but did not have transport to go travel to Kiruddu hospital, which is about sh5000 to and from, and cannot ask his parents for money because they have many priorities.

"Just like me, most young people in this village do not have transport to go to health centres to seek for HIV/AIDS services, but when they are brought closer to us, we want to use the chance well, that is why many young people turn up during health camps in communities," Ntwatwa said

Rukia Nanyonga, 25, said "I work in a restaurant and do not have time to go sit at the hospital for more than two hours waiting to be attended to. I rather wait until there is an outreach in our community and I access different health services within 30 minutes and go back to work," Nanyonga said 

Jane Namatta said some health workers at health centres are rude, and as such, young people fear approaching them to test for HIV/AIDS. "Health workers that come into communities during out reaches are very polite, easy to talk to about any health challenges, unlike those in hospitals who are sometimes rude," Namatta said

These were voices of youth from Kitaranga village in Kiwaffu zone, Makindye division in Kampala who were attending a one-day health outreach organized by Reach A Hand Uganda (RAGU) with other partners like Mulago hospital among others

Services like HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, cervical cancer screening, dental screening were carried out. Out of over 500 locals that sought for the services, half of them were youth.

Godffrey Ssenfuka Ssalongo, 45, a resident said community outreaches are good,  people seek for health services in big numbers, but there are two challenges involved.

Ssenfuka said outreaches should be increased from one in a year to at least two, to allow for follow up of cases of patients and medication.