By Mugisha Eric
How could we have known if we were not told? And who could have told us if you didn’t? I would first want to salute the Ugandan government under the presidency of His Excellency Yoweri Museveni for the tireless effort they have taken in fighting HIV/AIDS in this country.
This has been through mass sensitization using all sorts of communication channels including but not limited to media, publications, setting up organizations like TASO, AIC, JCRC to mention but a few.
Recently, our own President Museveni took a bold stance and carried out an HIV test publicly which of course speaks volumes to the rest of the population he leads. The government has also gone further to provide free counseling services to the people living with the virus, has given them free anti- retro- viral drugs (ARVS), free condoms, water and awareness services.
Other institutions have also added a voice to that of the NRM government to sensitize masses about the scourge and its dangers. Such institutions include the church, civil society organizations and other ministries within the government which have taken the fight against this deadly disease serious.
However, as it is said, every coin has two sides; everything good that comes must at some point have a disadvantage! The people in Uganda have now relaxed in the fight against HIV/AIDS because they have seen those infected with the virus even looking healthier than those who are not positive.
This is because the patients have been effectively taught the principle of positive living and there are ARVS in place, thanks to the NRM government. Some youths today have started saying that HIV/AIDS has now turned into a fever since technology has made it easier for people living a positive life to live a healthy and a hopeful life like any other person you meet on the streets of Kampala.
Technology has gone ahead to prove that a couple living with a virus can produce an uninfected baby (a process referred to as prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT))
The above developments are definitely good for any government though they tend to remove fear of the scourge amongst the population and they only treat the disease as a mere fever or as something that people can live with.
My call therefore is to invest in mass education that blends with the current developments and technology that have come as a result of fighting HIV/AIDS. Recently I was watching drama staged by one of the AIDS’ organizations in Entebbe; the drama and the songs presented were too cultural and still tackling the usual old methods of prevention of HIV which include among others avoid sharing of razor blades and other sharp objects, avoiding playing sex with an infected person etcetera.
It is a good thing that we know these things and be reminded of them daily, however new methods and advice that blend with the trends of the latter generation should be incorporated for instance investing much in social media on internet, incorporating songs that match the current genre of music and acting real life not situations.
If we become dynamic in the fight against HIV/AIDS, we shall together fight the scourge and reduce it to its minimum since the disease has also taken another shape. The basic way to avoid the scourge however still remains avoiding playing unprotected sex with a person you are not sure of his/her status. For the youth, they should abstain till marriage, the marrieds; should be faithful and to those who cannot help it; use a condom in a proper way. With that, we shall reduce the scourge in our beloved nation- Uganda.