LUCKY P
Kabarole District Chairperson Kimome Ruben has described HIV/AIDS as one of Uganda’s biggest public health challenges, calling for a deliberate and coordinated effort from government, development partners, communities, and individuals to curb its spread.
Kimome made the remarks while officiating at a meeting of the Kabarole District AIDS Committee, attended by district stakeholders, in the Chairperson’s boardroom at the Kitumba District Headquarters.
Addressing the meeting, Kimome said HIV/AIDS continues to affect the country’s social and economic development and emphasized that the fight against the epidemic requires commitment from all sectors.
He identified what he described as the four major drivers of HIV/AIDS in the country: poverty, disease, ignorance, and corruption. According to him, tackling these underlying challenges would significantly reduce the spread of the virus.
The chairperson further noted that transactional sex, largely driven by poverty, increasing work-related mobility that exposes people to multiple sexual networks, gender inequalities, and other risky behaviors continue to fuel new HIV infections.
Kimome called upon all stakeholders to renew their commitment to HIV prevention by intensifying community awareness campaigns, encouraging young people to abstain from risky sexual behavior, promoting regular HIV testing, ensuring timely treatment for those living with HIV, and strengthening support systems for vulnerable groups.
Presenting the district’s HIV/AIDS situation, Kabarole District Health Officer Dr. Stephen Kalyagiira said the district has an estimated population of 230,368 people and currently records an HIV prevalence rate of 10.6 percent, which remains above the national average.
He revealed that approximately 14,300 people aged 15 years and above are living with HIV in the district. He said Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) coverage currently stands at 86 percent, while the district registers about 400 new HIV infections annually, representing about 4 percent of new cases. He also disclosed that an estimated 1,600 people living with HIV remain unidentified and are therefore not receiving treatment.
Dr. Kalyagiira explained that during the last reporting quarter, 86 percent of those diagnosed with HIV were enrolled on treatment. However, he warned that the remaining proportion of people who have not started treatment remain at high risk of developing severe illness and may continue transmitting the virus to others.
He urged communities to embrace routine HIV testing so that those infected can be identified early and linked to treatment, noting that early diagnosis and consistent adherence to medication remain key in controlling the epidemic.
Dr. Lydia Kochwe from Baylor Foundation Uganda reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Kabarole District through regular quarterly District AIDS Committee meetings and other HIV prevention and treatment interventions.
She further revealed that Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Kataraka Health Centre, and Bukuku Health Centre have introduced a six-month HIV prevention injection for HIV-negative people who are at substantial risk of contracting the virus. She said the long-acting injectable prevention method is expected to improve adherence among high-risk populations and contribute to reducing new infections.
Also addressing the meeting, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kabarole Mukiibi Mike said the Office of the President remains committed to supporting government efforts aimed at ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
He encouraged parents and guardians to maintain open communication with their children about sexuality, relationships, and HIV prevention, noting that young people aged 19 to 24 years remain among the most affected groups. He also pointed out that men and women aged between 40 and 49 years continue to record high HIV infection rates.
The Deputy RDC further urged families and communities to eliminate gender-based violence, describing it as one of the major factors that increases vulnerability to HIV infection, particularly among women and girls.
Stakeholders at the meeting emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among government institutions, health workers, civil society organizations, cultural and religious leaders, and community members to accelerate HIV prevention efforts, increase treatment coverage, and ultimately reduce the burden of HIV/AIDS in Kabarole District.