Lucky Patrick
In a move to curb its persistently high HIV prevalence, Fort Portal City has set an ambitious target to reduce its HIV rate to a single digit.
This commitment was underscored during a high-level meeting held in the RCC Boardroom, where officials from the Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organizations (UNASO), the Ministry of Health, and the Fort Portal City AIDS Committee came together to strategize on health service integration and domestic financing.
The meeting chaired by the speaker Mr.Mugume William, who represented the mayor aimed to galvanize collective action among key stakeholders, emphasizing that a coordinated, accountable, and sustainably financed response is crucial to achieving zero new HIV infections in the city. Leaders discussed innovative strategies to strengthen health systems, mobilize local resources, and foster multi-sectoral collaboration.
According to UNASO’s facilitator, Mr. Were Edward, equipping city officials and technical leaders with effective frameworks for health service integration and domestic HIV financing is vital. He urged stakeholders to prioritize the domestic financing of HIV programs and ensure that the 0.1% policy—allocating a dedicated portion of resources—applies uniformly across all departments. This approach aims to make the city’s response more cohesive and resource-efficient.
Despite ongoing interventions, Fort Portal’s HIV prevalence remains alarmingly high at 14.1%, as reported by the City HIV Focal Person, Amara Evans. “The fight against HIV requires a multi-sectoral approach,” Evans emphasized. “Our focus must be on preventing new infections and reaching vulnerable populations who are most at risk.”
A significant driver of the epidemic in Fort Portal is the high prevalence among key populations, which account for approximately 44% of cases. This underscores the need for targeted interventions and tailored outreach programs to address the unique challenges faced by these groups.
Dr. Emma Mugisa, the City Health Officer, highlighted that Fort Portal is currently ranked second in HIV prevalence nationwide, second only to Mbarara City. He called for immediate, concerted efforts from all stakeholders to reverse this trend. “Our goal is to bring HIV prevalence down to a single digit,” Dr. Mugisa stated. “Achieving this requires doubling our prevention efforts and cascading these measures across all sectors of the city.”
Mr. Mugume William, the City Speaker, called on the government and Ministry of Health to give Fort Portal special consideration in HIV interventions, similar to how other health crises like Ebola and COVID-19 have been prioritized. “We need targeted support to protect our city from HIV, just as we have for other epidemics,” he urged.
The Assistant Resident City Commissioner, Bwarale Robert, emphasized that the fight against HIV is a collective responsibility. He urged the City AIDS Committee to establish regular meetings and activities, such as awareness campaigns, that promote practical engagement and data-driven interventions. “Everyone must participate in this fight using data and targeted strategiesto achieve zero new infections,” he stated.
Strategic actions put in place
In light of the high prevalence, the Committee recommended several strategic actions:
· Mobilize domestic resources through increased stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization.
· Enforce the 0.1% policy on HIV across all city departments.
· Fast-track police guidelines on men’s involvement in HIV testing alongside their partners.
· Develop behavioral change communication messages tailored to local contexts.