By Van Deguras
NTUNGAMO: Ntungamo district is on a high alert over increased new HIV/AIDS infections compared to other districts under Mbarara cluster.
This was revealed by the district health educator, who is also the district HIV/AIDS focal person Dr. Twesigye Nestelio during a press conference at Trek Savannah Hotel in Ntungamo Municipality on Wednesday. Other districts under Mbarara cluster are Ntungamo, Isingiro, Rwampala, Mbarara and Mbarara city.
Giving updates on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment interventions in the district, Dr. Twesigye revealed that they are focusing on mass testing in catabolized key populations like; Sex workers, Transgender, Intravenous drug users and Homosexuals living in hot spot areas.
He further revealed that they have decided to involve the media so that it can assist in disseminating the information on HIV prevention measures to the public as a way of fighting the scourge in the district.
A representative of the Organization for Community Empowerment (OCE) in Lyantonde district in partnership with National Association for Supporting People living with HIV/AIDS of Rwanda, Jerison Muhwezi revealed they started the organisation with the goal of improving the welfare for key populations in the six border Districts of Uganda and Rwanda.
Muhwezi added that the organisation strives to increase community awareness on the structural barriers that promote discrimination of key populations in accessing Health services and also increasing access to ART Services including PrEP and PEP among key populations.
The 2021 Uganda HIV survey shows the country’s HIV prevalence stood at 5.4% with 1.4M people living with HIV.
Ntungamo district has a population of 550,000 people and 18,000 of these are HIV positive. 15,000 have been enrolled on ARVs while the 3000 have not.
