Women ask for more HIV treatment services

HEALTH | HIV/AIDS


According to UNAIDS report 2019, Uganda has over 1.4million people living with HIV/ AIDs, where women and young girls in particular are the most affected.

On a sad note, there are still thousands of HIV/AIDs infected Ugandans who has no access to medical care.

According to the director programs and advocacy at international community of women living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA), Dorothy Namutamba, there has been meagre support from government towards access and utilization of quality and comprehensive HIV/AIDs care services across the country.

She noted that functionality of decentralized coordination structures, human rights violation, teenage pregnancies, under staffing, inadequate integration of HIV/AIDs in district plans and budget towards HIV/AIDs is still low.

According to a report conducted from 56 districts by ICWEA in support with TASO this year (2020), some of the challenges faced is supply of medical items on time.

Namutamba added that lack of information, education and communication materials at health centers has also left questions among people living with HIV about the treatment they are undertaking.

"There are communities where women have never heard of a female condom simply because they are not in circulation," she said.

She said condoms are a barrier method of contraception; if used correctly, they can be highly effective against HIV transmission.

Namutamba, however, expressed worry that shortage in accessing HIV/AIDS preventive methods like condoms may deter Uganda's efforts to reach the planned goals of 2030.