Concern as HIV cases soar in Hoima

Hoima: Dr. Peter Mudiope, the team leader for HIV prevention in the Ministry of Health, has revealed that the prevalence of HIV in Uganda is alarming.

He, however, stresses that in Hoima it has increased from 6.7% to now 6.9%. ‘’As the ministry, we have identified hot spots and common gatherings in Hoima such as Danjo Bar, Daboys, Hoima Central Market, and San Siro in Kiryatete, among others,’’ he added.

Dr. Mudiope says the Sexual Transmission Infections (STIs) prevalence rate is high among the key population, thus there is a need for more sexually transmitted infection drugs, and also HIV-related conditions still face challenges of stigma and limited access to care.

This was disclosed during the six-national annual sex workers’ dialogue (NASWD 6) organized by the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC), funded by UNAIDS and the Ministry of Health, held at the Hoima Golden Castle Hotel on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Brain Kaboyo, the Hoima City Mayor, called upon hotels and guest houses to start selling testing kits, saying since condoms are everywhere, let also testing kits be everywhere if HIV is to be contained.

Kaboyo also urged the key populations to economically empower themselves.

Macklean Kyomya, the executive director of AWAC, challenged the marginalized communities in Bunyoro to embrace economic empowerment projects in a bid to improve their livelihood.

Kyomya disclosed that currently AWAC is implementing a project of community creation for resilience and empowerment among the excoriated key populations for health and economic resilience in Hoima.

‘’The project looks at improving the lives of sex workers among other key populations; they should challenge their leaders by doing investments and also position themselves to benefit from government programs.’’

She also urged the sex workers to learn how to package and brand themselves if they are to get good money from their clients.

Sarah Nnaku, the global coordinator for UNAIDS, revealed that to them as UNAIDS, they believe everyone is equal and has rights.

Nnaku says in Uganda, 105 people and 12 children get infected with HIV every day, thus requesting the sex workers to be very careful and protect themselves during work.

She also cautioned them against the rampant spread of M-pox, saying so far we have 4 cases in Uganda.

Hilary Tumusiime, who represented the LCV Hoima district in Uthuman Mugisa, advised the key populations, especially sex workers, to have side income and investments so that when they retire from their work, they can still earn a living.

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