Abstain from sex- King Oyo tells Youth
Toro King, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV has called upon youth to abstain from sex unless they are ready to pay for its consequences.
Oyo was speaking at an engagement with the youth at Uganda Christian University on a discussion about HIV prevention and control. The event was organized by Uganda Aids Commission.
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In his remarks, King of Toro asked the youth to abstain from sex until they are ready for the consequences.
“Young people need to take responsibility and lead the cause to end AIDS. Make a choice and take positive action today. Get tested; know your status,” King Oyo said.
“HIV/AIDS may have begun with the current generation of the old people but it must end with you the current generation of the young people,” he added.
According to the Uganda AIDS commission, 78% of university students are sexually active. 73% are in temporary relationships. Two thirds of these engaged in sex within the first 6 months increasing their chances of acquiring HIV. 18% of sexually active university students have a cross generational partner while 17% of university students have more than 1 sexual partner. This increases the risk of acquiring HIV. Data indicates that HIV prevalence among men 30-44 yrs is very high.
According to Dr. Zepher Karyabakabo, the Director of Policy Research and Programming at AIDS commission says that Research was done and it was found that circumcision can protect and prevent AIDS transmissions by 60% but there is the 40% that remains. He emphasised that circumcision does not protect anyone from acquiring HIV/AIDS by 100%. “It is illiterate to think that way," he said.
The AIDS epidemic Uganda was brought down from 230,000 new infections per annum recorded in the late ‘80s at the height of the epidemic, to 52,000 by December 2016. The number of babies born with HIV went down from 28,000 in 2011 to 4,600 in 2016.
“Attaining viral suppression among young people is a challenge. 48% of university students are none accepting of HIV infected persons. Stigma is very high making it difficult for their peers to adhere to treatment. We need to sensitise the youth to end stigma.”
