'Young people more scared of pregnancy than HIV'

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The Uganda Aids Commission UAC on September 8, 2023, reported a high HIV prevalence in young people especially girls, after 70% of the 30,000 new HIV infections occurred in women aged 15-25 years.

Kizza Lubega, head of the counseling department at Makerere University Joint Aids Programme ( MJAP), says young people are still ignorant of the causes of the virus and lack enough information on how to prevent themselves from contracting it.

Lubega, who is also in charge of adolescents and adults at Mulago Hospital, told New Vision Online on Thursday that young people are having unprotected sex with multiple sexual partners whose HIV status they are uncertain of.

"It's hard to keep track of the HIV status of people with multiple sexual partners," he said.

He added that young people prefer to have unprotected sex than go for the morning-after pill to prevent pregnancy but few make the same effort to prevent contracting the deadly virus, yet there are many other better alternatives.

Lubega recommended the use of condoms and vaginal ring that prevents the contraction of HIV/AIDS and helps in birth control.

Government's role

Sharon Arach Oyat, the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) spokesperson said young people in this generation are more scared of pregnancy than HIV/AIDS, as they continue to have sex with multiple partners mindless of the repercussions.

According to Arach, the Government's push for the use of contraceptives has left a gap that has presented a chance for HIV infections to thrive in youth.

"The numbers are worrying, the Government has encouraged family planning, which is the same as encouraging children to have sex," she said.

Arach made the remarks while addressing journalists on November 29, 2023, at the party headquarters in Kampala.

With the current donor pullout, Arach worries that the fight in combating the disease will be low given the fact that the health ministry was highly dependent on donations.

The UPC Spokesperson advised the Government to allocate enough funds for the health sector because the surging numbers mean a need for critical attention.

"Parliamentarians should table the matter so that it is given the attention it deserves," she implored.

In the context of HIV prevention, Arach said the responsibility goes back to parents to give sex education to their children, which currently is lacking in urban families.

She added that the Government should increase sensitisation on how to prevent and manage chronic disease.

Lubega also advised that this sensitisation be extended to schools and communities so that people are real and that it kills.

Background

AIDS is now a serious public health problem for Ugandans. Currently, about 1.5 million Ugandans have HIV infection, acquired mainly via heterosexual transmission; about 10% acquired HIV infection via the mother-child transmission route. In two studies, the mother-child HIV transmission rate reached 26%.

Father, the long-awaited day of your promise in my life is here. With a thanksgiving heart, I come before you seeking your light as I embrace the end of this phase. Lead me lord and enable me to outshine every obstacle along my path. Amen.