New HIV campaign launched in Soroti to protect young women

________________ 

The Ministry of Health has launched a programme targeting Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Soroti city, aimed at eliminating HIV/AIDS among this group by 2030.

Isaac Ekellot, the HIV/AIDS focal person in Soroti city, noted a concerning rise in HIV/AIDS cases among adolescents.

He explained that records show a slight improvement in overall prevalence, currently at 11.6% compared to 12.5% in 2014.

Ekellot said Soroti city was selected alongside Kyotera district as a hotspot due to high transmission rates. The programme targets youth aged 10–24, focusing on awareness and preventive measures to curb new infections.

Meanwhile, Dr Moreen Kwikiriza from the Uganda AIDS Commission emphasised that the initiative is designed to strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention efforts among adolescents, leveraging city leadership support to provide timely services.

National outlook

Uganda continues to grapple with high rates of new HIV infections. In 2024 alone, 37,000 new infections were recorded nationwide.

Young women aged 15-24 remain disproportionately affected, accounting for 78% of infections among adolescents. Four out of every five young people newly infected are girls and young women.

However, the overall HIV prevalence has slightly declined from 5.1% in 2023 to 4.9% last year. Annual AIDS-related deaths have also dropped significantly, from 54,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2024.

Approximately 1.5 million Ugandans are living with HIV, with about 1.3 million currently on antiretroviral therapy.