by Lucky Patrick
The Civil Society Organizations have voiced deep concern over the increasing cases of parental neglect towards children living with HIV/AIDS in Fort Portal Tourism City.
This was revealed by Mana Rescue Home, an organization taking care of children living with HIV/AIDS in Fort Portal.
According to Jackline Kabasweeka Asiimwe, from Youth Encouragement Services, an organization that takes care of Mana Rescue home, many children who live with HIV/AIDS in the villages of Fort Portal are being neglected by their parents.
According to her, the parents believe that these children no longer have a purpose in life and would therefore be a waste of resources to look after them.
Records from the Uganda Aids Commission 2023 indicate that Fort Portal tourism city has the highest HIV infection rates standing at 17.8% up from 14.6% in 2020 in the country.
The same report indicates that a total of 20,646 people are living with the virus and are on anti-retroviral treatment with 12,864 being females while 7,782 are males.
Jill Kyatuhaire, an adviser at Young Angels Network, an organization that takes care of vulnerable children including those that live with the virus says the neglect of children living with HIV/AIDS by their parents adds salt to a wound to the mental health challenges they are going through.
This was revealed yesterday during a visit to Mana Rescue home by Young Angels Network, a non-governmental organization that takes care of vulnerable children.
The visit sought to address mental health challenges faced by the more than 30 children that live with HIV/AIDS at the home.
Kyatuhaire says that there are a number of challenges children living with the virus face that make them vulnerable to mental health challenges which if not addressed may become a challenge to the lives of these children
