The Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS and related matters has visited Tororo and Busia border district where they intracted with key district leaders who decried the increase in HIV infections calling on the Government to come up with urgent intervations to curb its spread.
Led by chairperson, Hon Sarah Kayagi, the committee visited Tororo Municipal council, Bison health centre 3, malaba health centre and Busia Municipal council all in the eastern boarder district on oversight and assessment of HIV/AIDS amongst the populations with ephasis to commercial sex workers, Drug addicts and people involved in acts of homosexuality.
Stakeholders who attended the meeting included top district officials led by the Deputy RDC, Mr. Albert Amula, Deputy Mayor of Tororo municipality, Achola Beatrice, DHo, Obbo Okoth, HIV/AIDS Partners, and key populations among others.
Information at the Ministry of Health indicates that the prevalence of HIV was at 6% in Tororo in the year 2020.
It is further indicated that there are 893 new infections diagnosed and 879 that have started on ART.
Persons living with HIV/AIDS in Tororo informed the committee that there is a need to extend support to their people instead of limiting resources to people in Kampala.
The committee chairperson Hon Sarah Kayagi informed members that her team was in the district to assess and interact with key population on HIV/AIDS and make a report in regards to HIV/AIDS service delivery considering the high prevalence.
She further enumerated the anti-homosexuality bill that was passed by Parliament was not only intended to criminalise the acts of homosexuality but also incorporated rehabilitation and treatment of victims.
On his part, Mr. Amula thanked the committee for passing the anti-homosexuality bill and requested them to take the lead in sensitizing communities about the bill once it’s assented to by the president. He said this would safeguard our morales and integrity as a country.
He also urged them to also ensure that the AIDS Trust Fund is operationalised and to use their mandate to appropriate more money to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“Since some of the donors who have been funding the sector are set to pull out because of the anti-homosexuality bill, the is now for you to operationalize the fund,” he said.
