Youth cautioned on HIV/AIDS
Jul 21, 2009
Prevention, but not the use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs is sustainable in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) northern region manager, Henry Muzoora, has said.
By Chris Ocowun
Prevention, but not the use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs is sustainable in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) northern region manager, Henry Muzoora, has said.
“It is true ARV drugs reduce the viral load and the CD4 count goes up, but we have found out that this treatment is not sustainable. This is because ARVs are expensive and unhealthy because they have side effects and administering them is difficult,†Muzoora added.
Speaking during the closure of a two-day northern region TASO music, dance and drama festival at Opit Travelers’ Inn in Gulu town on Friday, Muzoora reported that every year 140,000 Ugandans contract HIV/AIDS. A total of 388 contract the disease every month.
About 120,000 clients get ARV drugs annually, he revealed. He challenged parents to ensure that they provide young people with the necessities, saying it was easy for the youth to be lured with gifts from adults for sex.
The vice-chairman of TASO board of trustees, the Rev. Willy Olango, observed that TASO alone had 240,000 clients and reiterated the need to use preventive measures if the infection rate was to be scaled down.
The Amuru resident district commissioner, Edwin Yakobo Komakech, said some people living with AIDS were deliberately infecting others and called for harsh action against them.
“Our theme for next year will be; scaling up HIV prevention among the married couples,†the TASO deputy director of advocacy and networking, Joshua Wamboga, revealed.
This year’s festival was for sensitising the youth.
Prevention, but not the use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs is sustainable in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) northern region manager, Henry Muzoora, has said.
“It is true ARV drugs reduce the viral load and the CD4 count goes up, but we have found out that this treatment is not sustainable. This is because ARVs are expensive and unhealthy because they have side effects and administering them is difficult,†Muzoora added.
Speaking during the closure of a two-day northern region TASO music, dance and drama festival at Opit Travelers’ Inn in Gulu town on Friday, Muzoora reported that every year 140,000 Ugandans contract HIV/AIDS. A total of 388 contract the disease every month.
About 120,000 clients get ARV drugs annually, he revealed. He challenged parents to ensure that they provide young people with the necessities, saying it was easy for the youth to be lured with gifts from adults for sex.
The vice-chairman of TASO board of trustees, the Rev. Willy Olango, observed that TASO alone had 240,000 clients and reiterated the need to use preventive measures if the infection rate was to be scaled down.
The Amuru resident district commissioner, Edwin Yakobo Komakech, said some people living with AIDS were deliberately infecting others and called for harsh action against them.
“Our theme for next year will be; scaling up HIV prevention among the married couples,†the TASO deputy director of advocacy and networking, Joshua Wamboga, revealed.
This year’s festival was for sensitising the youth.