By George Bukenya
Despite continued intervention made by Uganda Aids Commission and government initiative to end new HIV/AIDS infection in Uganda, mother to child transmission still high causes the number of newborn babies.
The Director General of Uganda Aids Commission Dr. Nelson Musoba in a press Conference held and Uganda Media Centre revealed this today.
He said that the 2024 research done by scientists indicate that 4,700 babies were born with the HIV/AIDS; he attributes this to the neglect and ignorance by the expectant mothers.
According to the report, the new HIV Prevalence is standing at 4.9%, and 37,000 people were infected with HIV in 2024, this translates to 711 new infections every week and 101 people every day get infected with the deadly disease. The new infections were high among young the women compared to their male counter-part.
Although the Director General is saying there’s a significant stride registered towards ending new HIV infections in the country by 2030, the statistics for infected persons is still high and currently stands at over 1.5million people, of these 930,000 are females and 570,000 male.
The 2024 report also revealed that 20,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses compared to the year 2010, which stood at 56,000. Of the 20,000, adults aged over 15 years old accounts for 17,000 while of this adult index, males are 8,700 and females are8, 300. The high number of male death is attributed to large treatment gap among men.
The chairperson of the Board of Uganda AIDS Commission Dr. Ruth Ssenyonyi is saying that men are the major cause of the high numbers of new infections because they are hesitant to seek for treatment even when they are tested positive yet they are the one who contact and seduce women especially girls for sex.
“ It is men who go to women of any age category and ask for sex in pregnant them. Thy should for that matter take responsibility and go with their expectant spouses to health centres for HIV testing and more so getting health education information, saying this will help save the newborn baby from getting infected with the killer disease,’’ Dr. Ssenyonyi advised.
She further said, “ it’s absurd for the country to still register high numbers of new born babies with HIV yet there’re measures that can be taken to prevent this from occurring for instance there’re drugs that the expectant mother can take and prevent her baby for acquiring the disease right from the uterus.’’
Jacqueline Makokha UNAIDS’s Uganda country Director hailed east and south Africa region especially Uganda for making major progress in HIV response. She said that the region registered a decline in the new infection by 59% and AIDS-related deaths by 57%, which is a positive stride in efforts geared towards ending HIV by 2030.
A Call to Action
HIV still exists and continues to spread; you can protect yourself through abstinence, faithfulness and correct and consistent use of condom. Men should take a lead to end cross generation sex in our communities, male medical circumcision can also help reduce your risks of contraction HIV.
Leaders are urged to intensify the fight against HIV through their advocacy like ensuring the 0.1 of the local government budgets is allocated to HIV and AIDS activities as directed by the central government. Mobilize communities to address harmful social cultural and religious beliefs and practices such as child marriages, gender-based violence, and alcohol and drug abuse among others.