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The United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) in Uganda has expressed worry over the increasing number of adolescent girls contracting HIV.

The entity warns that if nothing is done, the situation might run out of hand for the country.

According to UNFPA, adolescent girls are failing to fulfil their potential in life due to premarital sex which exposes them to HIV, teenage pregnancies, defilement, gender-based violence and poverty.

“Adolescent girls are severely and unevenly at risk of HIV infection. Two-thirds of all new HIV infections are contracted by adolescent girls and as a result, many girls drop out of school due to unwanted pregnancies and early marriages,” UNFPA says.

This has partly been attributed to gender inequalities and patriarchal norms which has made it difficult for girls and young women to negotiate for safe sex considering their reproductive systems not yet fully developed.

Laura Criado, the gender and youth programmes co-ordinator at UNFPA, while addressing a group of students attending International Day of the Girl Child at National Theatre Auditorium in Kampala on Thursday, said the number of girl child contracting HIV and AIDS is four times higher than men and women above 25 years combined.

“HIV prevalence stands at 6.2% among the entire population with young women aged 15 to 24 years bearing the biggest burden since their infection rates are four times higher than the rest of the population,” she said.

With the success of the national HIV treatment programme, many children born with HIV are entering their adolescent years. Uganda now faces an unprecedented HIV and AIDS burden among adolescents which also comes with opportunity infections such as tuberculosis (TB) a major threat to the survival of people living with HIV and AIDS

“Adolescent mothers not only need improved access to screening and continuing treatment but also support to live positively with the disease and not pass it on to others,” Criado added.

Teenage pregnancies

Criado adds that the adolescent pregnancy rate stands at 25% among girls aged between 15 years and 19 years with only 12% of adolescent girls married off.

“In addition, as per UNFPA cost of inactive report 2021, annually more than shillings 645 billion shall be spent by the Government of Uganda on healthcare for teen mothers and education of their children,” she disclosed.

Take action

Kelvin Colgan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda, challenged the Government to take punitive action against errant actors who defile the girls to inflict pain on their career growth.

“In Uganda, there is a need to invest in child rights and include relevant sexuality education to all the young people for them to make decision making for the challenges they face,” he said.

Gender minister Betty Amongi cautioned young girls against engaging in premarital sex for them to continue with school life.

“You do not need to come from a rich family to succeed in life. So, you should resist the temptations of richmen, boyfriends and sugar daddies because all they want from you is to ruin your education career,” he advised.