The coalition for Post exposure prophylaxis HIV/PEP consisting of Center  for Domestic Violence Prevention, Hope after rape, Raising voices , Naguru Teenage among others is calling upon the ministry of health  to provide accessibility to HIV/PEP.

Hope Turyasingura

The HIV/PEP is   an emergency medical response consisting of short term antiretroviral medicines in all health centers in the country to prevent victims of rape and defilement from the risk of being infected by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Addressing a press briefing in Kampala, the Technical Adviser for CEDOVIP, Hope Turyasingura said that rape and defilement is common in the country and measures like PEP should be widely availed throughout the country. She quotes the Uganda police report for 2010 which indicates that a total of 7564 defilement and 707 being rape cases were reported.

“The majority survivors are young girls, yet health workers are not aware about their role in offering pep services to the victims,” Turyasingura said.

She urged the ministry of health to make sure that survivors of rape and defile receive Hiv/pep as a way of minimizing risks of HIV infection. Turyasingura says this can be through both increased public awareness and training the health workers on management of pep.

By Isaac Senabulya