Judiciary officers warned against reckless lifestyle

PIC: Patrick Bahugahare addressing judiciary officers in Arua recently. (Credit: Robert Ariaka)

HEALTH

ARUA - Judiciary officers from the nine districts of West Nile region have been urged to live an exemplary life.

During a one-day training on HIV, Dr Stephen Watiti, an HIV/AIDS activist, said it is important for judicial officers to embrace positive living and ensure a balanced diet.

He advised people living with HIV to always move with their drugs and take them at the right time. He said missing medication may result in drug resistance.  

Officers were told to test for HIV and practice a combination prevention of using condoms, safe male circumcision and taking drugs well to suppress the viral load.

People living with HIV were advised to desist from alcohol consumption, smoking and eating unhealthy food because lifestyle worsens their health status.

On the issue of stigma Watiti said discloser of status is important to fight stigma, discrimination and denial.

He said people living with HIV should be allowed to join the armed forces, the police, army and prisons.

Watiti challenged judiciary officers to become change agents and advocates for HIV fight.

Patrick Bahugahare, who represented the permanent secretary for the Judiciary, said currently, 78 judicial officers who are living with HIV receive sh150,000 monthly. He said the money is paid on quarterly basis to the tune of 450,000.

West Nile region is currently with the lowest HIV prevalence rate at 2.8%. The current national prevalence rate stands at 6%. 1.3million Ugandans live with HIV and 28,000 people die every year with 52,000 new infections registered, according to the Uganda AIDS Commission.

Judicial officers from the West Nile region embraced the training and concluded it with voluntary blood testing.