Why can’t we legislate against HIV/AIDS?
Jun 14, 2009
LEGISLATING against HIV may not be the solution to the problem of new HIV infections. In fact, it may lead to an increase instead as people will try to beat it by denying they have HIV.
Face HIV with Dr. Watiti
Dear doctor,
Why is it that in Uganda people who are HIV-negative are allowed to get married to those who are HIV-positive? This just increases the spread of the disease! I would suggest that all couples who intend to get married, have mandatory Pre-Marital HIV Testing so that only couples that have the same HIV status are allowed to marry. It is better to promote same sero status marriages and good morals within the marriages if we are to overcome HIV/AIDS.
A.M
Dear A.M,
LEGISLATING against HIV may not be the solution to the problem of new HIV infections. In fact, it may lead to an increase instead as people will try to beat it by denying they have HIV.
This will drive the epidemic underground thereby creating conditions conducive for its spread.
I believe the best weapon we have is information. People need to know basic information about what causes the disease, how it is spread and how people who have it can be helped to live with it without spreading it.
People will then know the sero status of those they choose to love or marry and would have made informed decisions. Preventing new infections will therefore be a shared responsibility.
Lastly, when you say we should promote good behaviour within marriages, it may appear to mean that those infected behaved badly which is not necessarily the case.
I think the basic risk of getting this disease is being human and so we should not look at infected as people who have flawed moral behaviour.
Write to health@newvision.co.ug
Dear doctor,
Why is it that in Uganda people who are HIV-negative are allowed to get married to those who are HIV-positive? This just increases the spread of the disease! I would suggest that all couples who intend to get married, have mandatory Pre-Marital HIV Testing so that only couples that have the same HIV status are allowed to marry. It is better to promote same sero status marriages and good morals within the marriages if we are to overcome HIV/AIDS.
A.M
Dear A.M,
LEGISLATING against HIV may not be the solution to the problem of new HIV infections. In fact, it may lead to an increase instead as people will try to beat it by denying they have HIV.
This will drive the epidemic underground thereby creating conditions conducive for its spread.
I believe the best weapon we have is information. People need to know basic information about what causes the disease, how it is spread and how people who have it can be helped to live with it without spreading it.
People will then know the sero status of those they choose to love or marry and would have made informed decisions. Preventing new infections will therefore be a shared responsibility.
Lastly, when you say we should promote good behaviour within marriages, it may appear to mean that those infected behaved badly which is not necessarily the case.
I think the basic risk of getting this disease is being human and so we should not look at infected as people who have flawed moral behaviour.
Write to health@newvision.co.ug