Tears as HIV positive children narrate suffering

By Pascal Kwesiga 

Tears rolled down the cheeks of some adults as HIV positive children narrated the suffering they are going through as a result of what they called “theft of funds meant for treatment of people living with AIDS.

In their presentation before first lady, Janet Museveni, at the Uganda youth forum symposium at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday, the children wondered why no action has been taken against officials implicated in misallocation of funds meant for AIDS patients.

Over 50 children mainly girls from various AIDS service organizations under the national council for children warned civil servants against diverting money meant for anti AIDS programs. The symposium was organized by the Uganda Youth Forum founded by the first lady.

“Civil servants, please have a heart for us who were born with AIDS. Put your selves in our shoes,” 17-year-old Clare Nampijja said.

The children who asked government to increase funding for national HIV/AIDS response and NGOs engaged in the fight against the epidemic complained of discrimination in hospitals and schools.

“Teachers, protect us in schools, why do you mistreat us? Is it because we are HIV positive?” 12-year old Beatrice Nakazzi asked as some people wiped tears from their faces.

They wondered whether the cure for AIDS would be found one day so that they can stop leading a life of worries and uncertainties.

Museveni told the children that Uganda would see generations free from the scourge if people change their reckless and negative behavior to positive living.

She noted that it was gratifying to note that HIV prevalence level has gone down especially among university students adding that there was need for preach behavioral change among the adults to eradicate the scourge.

Museveni who is also minister for Karamoja said Uganda registered a success story in the battle against the epidemic when its prevalence rate dropped significantly from 18% to 6% in 1990s.  She observed that the prevalence rate has stagnated at about 6.1% for several years.

“We need to reenergize our leadership at all levels to further lower the prevalence rate,” she said.

The Uganda AIDS commission director general, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, attributed the stagnation of the HIV prevalence rate to negative sexual behavior especially among men, complacency to due availability of ARVs and multiple sexual partners.