Community Health Supplement

By Stella Naigino

In spite of the progress made in the fight against HIV/ AIDS, more still needs to be done. According to Bharam Namanya, the executive director community health alliance Uganda the 2004- 2014 UNAIDS report indicates a 13% decrease in new HIV infections, but more is required to reduce new infections to zero.

He says the campaign against HIV/ Aids still faces challenges such as refusal by men to go for HIV tests with their wives during antenatal visits. "Most men never want to be seen around health facilities because they feel this demeans them," says Namanya.

He further explains that it is for this reason that in 2010-2014, there was a decline of 66% of new infections in women, leaving men at 44%. "This is because women have embraced the benefits of testing as compared to men," he says.

He adds that they still face challenges popularising the use of condoms. "People still find it hard to buy condoms because they think they will be looked at as prostitutes. For the married, it's worse.

This is because when a married man or woman buys condoms, those around start wondering why." He notes that people should be sensitised that condoms are not only for the unmarried, but that even the married can have protected sex.

He adds that young people are still ignorant about HIV/Aids and the preventive measures, yet they are sexually active. Other challenges, Namanya states, include victims facing stigma and the fear of openly talking about their condition.

They feel left out and continue infecting others in the community, he observes. Namanya says that they are also concerned that failure to use contraceptives is partly responsible for some cases of maternal mortality. "Women don't give their bodies time to recover. By the time they seek treatment, they are already weak," he says.

What has been done?

"Community health alliance Uganda in conjunction with link up Uganda came up with a threeand- a-half year programme in 2013 aimed at achieving better sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for young people aged between 10 and 24 years," notes Namanya.

He says through the programme, young people affected by HIV/Aids are empowered to take up integrated SRHR/HIV services.

He notes that outreaches were conducted in 12 districts with the aim of reaching young people to ensure they have access to contraceptives, counselling and education, HIV counselling and other health related issues that affect young people within any community.

Ninety percent of Ugandan mothers with HIV are accessing treatment to prevent transmission to their babies, according to UNAIDS outgoing Country Director Musa Bungundu. Bungundu explained that the number of children born with HIV reduced from 29,000 in 2011 to 3,200 in 2015.

He added that the number of people dying of AIDS had reduced from 63,000 in 2011, to 28,000 in 2015. Bungundu, says the number of people on anti-retroviral treatment increased from 329,000 in 2011 to 834,931 by the close of 2015.

Namanya says these achievements are due to sensitisation which is done through music, dance and drama campaigns on HIV/Aids. "The programme, which ended in June, has rather been helpful. The organisers worked hand-in-hand with the ministry of health, UNICEF and UNAIDS to contribute to the struggle against HIV/Aids," he says.