NGOs intensify fight against HIV/AIDS

Philly Lutaaya Cares, an organization working to promote collective responsibility for the struggle against HIV/AIDS together with a consortium of over thirty organizations operating in Uganda on Friday announced a joint effort to mobilize the community in Uganda to reverse the current situation where 375 Ugandans are being infected on a daily basis with HIV/AIDS.

This joint effort is in commemoration of the International AIDS Candle-light Memorial, which is a community mobilization campaign to raise further social consciousness and awareness about HIV and AIDS on a global scale.

Tezra Lutaaya, Daughter to the late Philly Bongoley Lutaaya and Founder Member of Philly Lutaaya Cares said, "Philly Lutaaya Cares together with Thirty (30) organizations including Corporates, Non-Government Organizations and Government Ministries have today announced a joint effort to light millions of candles together at each of our respective premises on Friday May 15th 2015 the entire day with an aim of standing with all those families that have lost their loved ones to HIV/AIDS as well as persons currently living with HIV/AIDS. The International AIDS Candle-light memorial event is in line with this year’s World AIDS Day theme – Getting to zero and is intended to get everyone involved in reversing the numbers from 375 Ugandans getting infected every day to zero by interesting everyone to test and know their status as well as share personal testimonies on how HIV/AIDS has affected them personally, their families, companies, communities and the country at large."

The organizations involved in this joint effort include Century Bottling Company (Coca Cola), Stanbic Bank, SPEDAG, Interfreight, Total Uganda, Smart Telecom,  JR Consultants, Communication for Development Foundation of Uganda, MAAD Advertising, Atii & Kati, Capital FM, Radio One & Two, Nation Media Group – KFM, Dembe & Monitor, Simba FM, Bob FM, Mega FM, Buddu FM, Radio King, Voice of Lango, Radio Apac, Spirit FM, Signal, Open Gate, RFM and Kasese FM among others.

Lutaaya added that much as there are numerous HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment messages all over the place, there is still need for people to write their own messages by letting individual Ugandans speak up about their experiences that will in turn change the perception and thinking of what the society in a whole is doing.

‘I do strongly uphold my father’s belief of openness and seeking local practicable solutions through speaking out about his HIV/AIDS status at a time when the disease was still stigmatized in the late 1980’s. Now is the time for us as a generation to take a moment and ask ourselves what the next move is.’

Basil Tushabe, Executive Director Communication for Development Foundation Uganda said, "Uganda in the past reduced HIV/AIDS prevalence from 30 to 6 percent through having a multi-sectoral approach and engaging in mass communication campaigns and awareness, However, today we are seeing a rise again in the infections since HIV/AIDS is a behaviourial disease and there is a lot of complacency that has tended to get people to relax abit about the true dangers of the disease. I therefore call upon more communication interventions and multi-sectoral approaches to further drive towards getting the numbers to zero eventually."

Lutaaya noted that Philly Lutaaya’s parting words were ‘My work here is done, but many years after I'm gone, people will continue the fight! The end is not in sight!’ To that end, the family through their Charity Organization Philly Lutaaya Cares has continued to address the issues of complacency, stigmatization, discrimination and alienation of HIV/AIDS victims and orphans, which gravely affects the HIV/AIDS fight in Uganda.

She concluded by noting that with key leaders participating and also considering further engagement through their respective various networks, we are hoping that this joint effort will generate a spill-over effect that will engage the whole nation in the campaign. She therefore called upon more leaders and individuals in their respective families, companies and local communities to hold mini – candle light events for their members wherever they will be on Friday, May 15th 2015.

All pictures and activities of the event can be posted and followed via social media platforms – Website: www.phillylutaayacares.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/PhillyLutaaya;  Or Twitter: #lutaayacares