Mukono HIV/AIDS prevalence rate worries leaders

By Henry Nsubuga

Mukono district leadership is worried about the high rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence rate for the district.

Mukono District Health Officer Dr. Elly Tumushabe said that according to the latest Sero Behavior Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2011, the prevalence rate for Mukono district stands at nine percent.

Tumushabe added that the prevalence rate for Koome Islands in Koome Sub County, Mukono district is eighteen percent.

He said that Mukono district shared the same results with Wakiso, Luweero, Nakaseke, Buvuma and Kayunga districts which were categorized in the Central Uganda II region. However, the national HIV/AIDS prevalence rate stands at 7.3 percent.

While addressing an assembly at Mukono Youth Center where the district held its World AIDS day celebrations on Monday, Tumushabe said that Mukono is referred as the most-at-risk population because it is composed of many urban centers, islands and landing sites.

Tumushabe said that for the year 2013, Mukono district has far had 85,000 people tested for HIV of whom 18,000 were pregnant mothers. He said that the results for pregnant mothers found 770 HIV positive.

“Fortunately, 595 mothers were helped to produce children who were HIV negative. I therefore urge all Ugandans to test for HIV,” said Tumushabe. 

He said that HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has increased following the reduced investment in HIV/AIDS prevention measures at a national level.

“We used to distribute condoms at parish level but it is no more. Today people complain that they do not have condoms more especially in villages. In the islands, getting a condom is a very big chance,” said Tumushabe.

Mukono district chairman, Francis Lukooya Mukoome showed dismay at the high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate for the district.

Lukooya said that the district has places like the islands which are difficult to reach by the health workers who would take HIV/AIDS prevention message and services.

Mukono district Woman Member of Parliament, Peace Kusasira asked parents to always talk to their children about HIV/AIDS and ways how it is transmitted plus its prevention measures.

“It’s better if parents always ask your children to abstain from sex before marriage. We should strive to zero new HIV transmission through the use of condoms, pregnant mothers their husbands to test for HIV and practice means which avoid mother to child transmission for those who are found positive,” said Kusasira.