45% of PLWH didn't have enough meals to enable them take ARVs - Report
Dec 31, 2020
The study exposed that almost 7% of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWH) could go without a single meal a day.
HEALTH|HIV/AIDS|LOCKDOWN
At least 45% of the People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) were unable to take their daily ARVs during lockdown because they lacked enough food, a new study has revealed.
The study exposed that almost 7% PLWH could go without a single meal a day.
The study was conducted between October and December in ten districts including Arua, Adjumani, Nakasongola, Mbarara, Rakai, Abim and Gulu among others.
About 2,500 participants including PLWH, key population, local leaders, District Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) conducted the study.
Meanwhile, Uganda Network on Law Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET) funded the same.
Speaking while releasing the study finds at the 2nd High level National dialogue on HIV, Health and the Law at Serena Hotel in Kampala, David Kabanda from CEFROHT reported that 3.4% of the Tuberculosis (TB) patients lacked food adding that, this made them abscond from treatment and 5.2% took TB drugs and ARVs on an empty stomach.
The study also revealed that 99% of the respondents in the study did not know the new HIV drug they were taking.
Kabanda said, "That is a violation because you cannot treat me with the medicine that I don't know.
"The majority of PLWH didn't seek redress when their rights have been violated, this comes from the fear and many of their leaders don't care whether these people have rights or not. This seems to be pushing HIV below the carpet."
The study highlighted that about 82% of the health workers attending PWLH didn't understand that PLWH have rights. Stigma and discrimination was also reported to be rampant.
The study recommended that government should make sure that, it trains health workers, leaders and PLWH about their rights, because if they don't, then violation will continue and infections will rise.
At the same meeting, Edrin Katamba aka MC Kats appealed to PLWH to stay strong and get rid of the stigma that society created on to them.
He pledged to encourage people already infected with HIV/AIDS that, life can still go on if they take their medication and be whatever they want to in future.
The executive director of UGANET Dora Kiconco said they will work with Katamba to ensure that every life is treasured and dignified.