'More needs to be done to end HIV & AIDS threat by 2030'
The goal of ending HIV & AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 was set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV & AIDS, and adopted by UN member states in 2015 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
John Kalule, the commissioner for monitoring and evaluation in OPM speaking to the staff of OPM to continue protecting themselves to have the disease wiped out. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)
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The staff of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) have been urged to intensify the fight against HIV and AIDS as Uganda joined the rest of the globe in commemorating World AIDS Day — observed every December 1.
OPM permanent secretary Alex Kakooza, in a statement delivered on his behalf by the undersecretary for finance and administration, Patricia Lakidi, reminded the staff of the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by the end of this decade.
This was during a meeting held at the OPM offices in Kampala on Tuesday (December 2).
He said staff can play a role in the cause through testing, prevention, treatment, supporting those affected, fighting stigma and discrimination.
“We are talking about ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done,” Kakooza said.
“I encourage you to get tested for HIV. If you are negative, please protect yourself from AIDS. If you are positive, get placed on treatment and adhere to the treatment guidelines."
The goal of ending HIV & AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 was set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV & AIDS, and adopted by UN member states in 2015 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
To realise this goal, new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths need to be significantly reduced so that the disease no longer poses a major threat.
According to the Uganda AIDS Commission, the number of Ugandans estimated to be living with HIV increased from 1.2 million in 2010 to over 1.5 million in 2024. Of these, 1.3 million were receiving treatment by last year. Uganda’s HIV prevalence is 4.9%.
Statistics from the commission also show that Uganda recorded 37,000 new HIV infections in 2024, and 20,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in the same year.
John Kalule, the commissioner for monitoring and evaluation in OPM, cautioned against complacency.
“We should encourage those on treatment to continue taking the drugs and seek useful information. We can easily go back to the bad days if we are not careful and mindful of our lives," he said.
The OPM conducted a health camp, giving staff an opportunity to get screened for various health conditions.
There were also interactive sessions on mental health and workplace wellness during the gathering.