Lucky P
Dr. Kalyegira Stephen, the District Health Officer – DHO of Kabarole, has expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of AIDS-related deaths among men in the district.
Recent statistics
According to recent statistics from the Uganda AIDS Commission, the country recorded 38,000 new HIV infections and 19,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2023, with 8,200 women and 8,700 men dying.
The HIV prevalence in Uganda stands at 5.1%, with women bearing a higher burden at 7.2% compared to men at 4.2%. Kabarole has 11.6%prevalence rate while Fort Portal.City tops with 14.1% in Toro.
Dr. Kalyegira attributes the high number of men dying from AIDS to two primary factors including Low Voluntary Testing Rates and Poor Adherence to ARVs noting that Men struggle to adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART), reducing its effectiveness in managing the disease.
During the District AIDS Committee quarterly review meeting at Kitumba, Dr. Kalyegira urged stakeholders to revamp their strategy and focus on engaging men in HIV prevention and treatment efforts. He emphasized that neglecting the boy child can have long-term consequences, including unstable marriages and increased vulnerability to HIV.
Combating the vice
To combat the rising number of AIDS-related deaths among men, Dr. Kalyegira stressed the importance of Implementing programs that cater specifically to men’s needs.
He encouraged them to seek testing and treatment, Educating communities about the importance of HIV testing, treatment adherence, and the risks associated with untreated HIV and Tackling the high rate of teenage pregnancies, which can contribute to increased HIV transmission and other health risks.
