HIV infection rising among children in Uganda now at 50,000

Ministry of Health has confirmed that the country has a total of 50,000 children infected with the HIV, the virus with that causes AIDS.

The ministry in a report revealed that 90% of the children get the infection from their mothers during child birth.

Uganda children

Uganda children

The ministry is concerned that the number of HIV infections among children is rising yet the ministry is faced with inability to track children from their places of residence so as to advise them on how and when they should start having medication.

The government of Uganda with sup[port from different international agencies offers free anti retroviral drugs to HIV positive people in different health centres, but not all those infected can easily access these drugs.

These concerns were raised by a group of children from Baylor Uganda a local NGO that looks after HIV infected children have petitioned women MPs asking them to make sure they monitor provision of drugs for AIDS in hospitals and to continue sensitizing the public about the existence of HIV virus so that they can protect
themselves from infection.

The Minister of Health Androa Christine appeals to men to get more concerned about their wives and children if the disease is to be fought. She said if men are more concerned and committed, they will less likely engage in extra marital affairs, and if a couple is already infected, the man will support the woman to attend Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV.

The program manager STD/AIDS control at the Ministry of health Dr. Zainab Akol says there is 51% prevalence of the virus among the women due to cultural, religious and peer pressure reasons where they want to have a class of belonging that forces them to go in for much older men or have relationships against their wish.
By Isaac Senabulya

 

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