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Dr. Watiti Stephen, the commissioner HIV/AIDS management and risk communication at Uganda AIDS Commission led a team of Health experts in holding candles in memory of those who succumbed to HIV/AIDS at Arua High Court. By Federick DramadriArua City A Worrying
Dr. Watiti Stephen, the commissioner HIV/AIDS management and risk communication at Uganda AIDS Commission led a team of Health experts in holding candles in memory of those who succumbed to HIV/AIDS at Arua High Court.
By Federick Dramadri
Arua City
A Worrying statistics released by Uganda AIDS commission on HIV status has placed West Nile region at highly infectious position with its prevalence rate shooting to 3.1 % against the 2.8% in 2020.
This means that a total of 46,400 people are have already tested positive of the disease and are currently on medication.
Health workers on the other hand are advocating for more strengthened systems, kill discrimination and stigma among the population to achieve the end HIV/ AIDS by 2030.
While addressing court clerks, registrars in the region at Arua High Court, Victor Rwengabo the Zonal Coordinator –Mid North attached to Uganda AIDS commission noted that the region posts an average of 1,490 new infections per year and most of these come from the urban settings.
”this is a town, and region that is bordering Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan and a resting point for the transit drivers to the Central African Republic, so we are likely to have many more new infections coming into this region therefore as you interact with the community, know that you can get infected anytime,” Rwengabo explained.
Uganda has made remarkable progress in efforts of reducing HIV/AIDS epidemics between 1995 and 2025 from 18% prevalence to the current 5.1%. However the HIV infections among females remain higher at 6.6% compared to 3.6% in men.
Dr. Watiti Stephen, the commissioner HIV/AIDS management and risk communication at Uganda AIDS Commission says openness among partners and timely testing plays a vital role in managing the disease.
“The thing that we need to work on, people who are having the HIV/AIDS are not the problem and do not discriminate against them. This is the problem we have”. Dr Watiti warned.
Salim Kumakech the Arua Resident City Commissioner encourages community members to embrace testing and adherence to medical advice in sustaining a better life.
“We have heard stories of very many successfully Ugandans who have given birth to negative children and yet they are living with HIV/AIDS, this is because they accepted their status and accepted to adhere to the medical protocols,” Kumakech urged.
At district level, Arua city and Nebbi Municipality have higher prevalence at 3.8% compared to rest of the districts, this is followed by Zombo district at 3.7%, Pakwach at 3.5%, Moyo at 2.4% and the least districts with HIV/AIDS prevalence is Yumbe and Maracha that both registered 1.1% in the newly released Uganda AIDS Commission report.
On average 19,000 people die annually of HIV/AIDS in Uganda.