A whopping 48% of Ugandans don't know their HIV status, according to the Uganda AIDS Commission, prompting local leaders to set an example by getting tested in the run-up to World AIDS Day on 1 December.
Taking their cue from Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, who publicly got an HIV test in Kampala recently, local leaders in Teso flocked to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital for tests during the hospital's AIDS Week (24 to 28 November). Their actions give more punch to the president's campaign against the virus, encouraging people to know their own HIV status.
Ben Etonu, resident district commissioner in Soroti District, said during the launch of AIDS Week: "It's the first time in history that we have initiated this type of campaign to engage leaders so they can also engage communities to go to the nearest health facility to test for HIV. This is the way to go and we shall carry this out every year. If this day had not been organised, many of us would have missed getting tested because of one reason or another."
Leading by example
World AIDS Day encourages reflection on global commitments to people living with HIV. The day raises awareness about the challenges of the epidemic and stimulates thinking about new strategies for responding to its transmission.
Dr Charles Okadhi, district health officer in Soroti District, said: "HIV is still with us. We feel for those living with HIV or whose dear ones have been affected by HIV. But we are not sitting back. Indeed, a lot is being done. We are asking leaders to lead by example and get tested."
The hospital has organised several activities for AIDS Week, including voluntary HIV testing and counseling, cancer screening, nutritional education, malaria testing, safe male circumcision, and drama performances.
Ignorance leads to new infections
The director general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr Kihumuro Apuuli, contends that many Ugandans--especially men--are ignorant of their status and expose themselves to HIV infection through leading a reckless sex life.
"New infections are high, and there is need for a concerted effort to break the back of the virus," he said, revealing that only 577,000 Ugandans out of the estimated 1.6 million living with HIV are accessing antiretroviral treatment.
There has been apprehension that Uganda is fast losing the gains made over the last two decades in its response to HIV, with the UNAIDS country coordinator, Musa Bangudu, revealing early this year that Uganda is the only country in eastern and southern Africa with rising HIV infection rates.
The findings from the last Uganda AIDS Indicator Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2011 are deeply disturbing. The proportion of Ugandans aged 15-49 who are infected with HIV has risen and now stands at 7.3% (and even higher in women at 8.3%), up from 6.4% in the 2004-05 survey. The main concern is that the number of new infections has been rising steadily: from 124,000 in 2009; to 128,000 in 2010; and then to around 145,000 in 2011.
In light of this data Dr Chris Wandira from Soroti Regional Referral Hospital explained the significance behind World AIDS Day's theme this year. "Getting to zero means no more new infections, zero discrimination against HIV and also zero new deaths related to HIV. A big gift you can give yourself this year is to know your status."