Calls to curb HIV spread among couples

Feb 23, 2017

The health ministry should engage local communities more, says Dr. Joseph Matovu.

Dr. Joseph Matovu, a Makerere's University medical doctor, has advised the ministry of health to devise means of curbing HIV/AIDS among married couples.
 
According to a study carried out by Dr. Matovu and co in Rakai district for a PhD award in public health, HIV/AIDs prevalence among married couples is  at 12%.
 
Matovu said the health ministry should engage local communities to appreciate the advantages of people knowing their HIV status.

"We found that couples that we met through those small group interactive sessions were more likely to test together as a couple than those that were not met in that way.

"So in a way what it suggests is that it is possible to promote couples HIV counselling and testing if we could meet couples in smaller groups, describe and tell them what it means to test together and the benefits and also bring in other couples that have ever tested.

"They can see them and ask them questions, have their questions answered and then they can easily come and test together. Once they test, if they are positive, they link into care and if they are negative, they can protect themselves against HIV."

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});