HIV/AIDS still lethal
THE PREVALENCE of the deadly HIV/AIDS in Uganda has stabilised. This is not good. It means that although the spread of the decease had been slowing down for the decade of the 1990s, it has now stopped decreasing In other words about the same percentage of people is catching the disease every year fo
THE PREVALENCE of the deadly HIV/AIDS in Uganda has stabilised. This is not good. It means that although the spread of the decease had been slowing down for the decade of the 1990s, it has now stopped decreasing In other words about the same percentage of people is catching the disease every year for the past three years For a country with one of the fastest population growth rates in the world, it means that in absolute terms, more people are getting the disease anyway.
Apparently, Ugandans have let down their guard. We have slackened from the vigilance of the late eighties and nineties. This slackening is taking place in spite of the multiplicity of agencies, both local and international, involved in the anti-AIDS campaigns.
There is certainly no shortage of know-how as far as fighting the epidemic is concerned.
The leaders from President Museveni down to then RCs preached the anti-HIV message wherever they went and told people in simple terms the cause and consequences of the disease. But now the struggle appears to be losing steam at a time when there is plenty of money and many experts involved.
There is urgent need to refocus the struggle. The many forces that are involved in the HIV/AIDS work must get coordinated. Although there appear to be plenty of resource, they are not necessarily rationally deployed.
There are many foreign donors anxious to help. A central coordinating agency should help determine where the donor resources should be directed so that we avoid overspending in some areas while others are neglected.
Apparently, Ugandans have let down their guard. We have slackened from the vigilance of the late eighties and nineties. This slackening is taking place in spite of the multiplicity of agencies, both local and international, involved in the anti-AIDS campaigns.
There is certainly no shortage of know-how as far as fighting the epidemic is concerned.
The leaders from President Museveni down to then RCs preached the anti-HIV message wherever they went and told people in simple terms the cause and consequences of the disease. But now the struggle appears to be losing steam at a time when there is plenty of money and many experts involved.
There is urgent need to refocus the struggle. The many forces that are involved in the HIV/AIDS work must get coordinated. Although there appear to be plenty of resource, they are not necessarily rationally deployed.
There are many foreign donors anxious to help. A central coordinating agency should help determine where the donor resources should be directed so that we avoid overspending in some areas while others are neglected.