Avoid stigmatizing HIV patients-UAC chief

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 03:00 pm

The Director-General of the Uganda Aids Commission has cautioned the public against stigmatizing people living with HIV/AIDs.

Dr. Nelson Musoba said if discrimination and stigma are stopped, people will be able to access services and adhere to their treatment without any interference adding that this will help in defeating HIV/AIDS by 2030.

Musoba said this during the commemoration of International Day on Zero Discrimination in Kimombasa, Bwaise. According to the 2019 stigma index for Persons Living with HIV, more than 21% of infected males in Uganda and 20% of females miss out on a dose of their treatment.

HIV/AIDS activists say the fear of disclosure and the fear of perceptions of others have a direct impact on adherence, viral load suppression which eventually increases incidences of HIV.

The event which was organised by UGANET in collaboration with its partners was under the theme, “Zero Discrimination against Women and Girls.”

The executive director of UGANET, Dora Kiconco also said, “unless we combat stigma and discrimination we shall not end HIV/AIDS.”

She said the focus on women and girls in this year’s theme will help to raise visibility for the challenges of discrimination that women and girls face.

Meanwhile, HIV positive women with disabilities have asked the government to put information on HIV/AIDs in braille so that the blind can access it.

The executive director Positive Women with Disabilities Uganda (POWODU) Betty Kwagala said at the moment there is no HIV information on braille.

Kwagala also appealed to the government to conduct a study Countrywide of People with disabilities who are living with HIV/AIDS.

The targets are 90% of all HIV positive persons are aware of their HIV positive status, 90% of all people living with HIV are enrolled on antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all persons on HIV treatment are virally suppressed.

Women and girls in Uganda continue to face disproportionate risk to HIV infection due to biological, social, cultural and economic factors.
Musoba said this during the commemoration of International Day on Zero Discrimination in Kimombasa, Bwaise. According to the 2019 stigma index for Persons Living with HIV, more than 21% of infected males in Uganda and 20% of females miss out on a dose of their treatment.
HIV/AIDS activists say the fear of disclosure and the fear of perceptions of others have a direct impact on adherence, viral load suppression which eventually increases incidences of HIV.
The event which was organised by UGANET in collaboration with its partners was under the theme, “Zero Discrimination against Women and Girls.”
The executive director of UGANET, Dora Kiconco also said, “unless we combat stigma and discrimination we shall not end HIV/AIDS.”
She said the focus on women and girls in this year’s theme will help to raise visibility for the challenges of discrimination that women and girls face.
Meanwhile, HIV positive women with disabilities have asked the government to put information on HIV/AIDs in braille so that the blind can access it.
The executive director Positive Women with Disabilities Uganda (POWODU) Betty Kwagala said at the moment there is no HIV information on braille.
Kwagala also appealed to the government to conduct a study Countrywide of People with disabilities who are living with HIV/AIDS.
Uganda is also committed to the global 90-90-90 targets to be achieved by 2020 and ending Aids by 2030.
The targets are 90% of all HIV positive persons are aware of their HIV positive status, 90% of all people living with HIV are enrolled on antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all persons on HIV treatment are virally suppressed.
Women and girls in Uganda continue to face disproportionate risk to HIV infection due to biological, social, cultural and economic factors.