Jinja records rise in HIV infections
By Jaffari Muyinda
Jinja district has registered a high risk of HIV prevalence with youths and women being the disproportionate.
Keep Reading
In the report released by the ministry of health, Jinja stands at 8.4% a status beyond national average.
The senior clinical officer who doubles as the Jinja district AIDs focal person Susan Naguyo said, "the emergency of new infections registered cause an alarm setting at 45 in Buwenge town council, 34 Buwenge rural, 33 in Buyengo, 14 in Kakira, Busede and Bugembe in Jinja city respectively."
The section of persons being infected in the current wave are those dwelling in the urban centers, youths most susceptible living the future un tabulated.
"The rise in the in the infections has caused an alarm because our last year's theme was to kick HIV out of Uganda by 2030," she said.
As an attempt for a robust reduction in the numbers of people acquiring the virus, Uganda AIDS commission has embarked on engaging religious leaders from the entire areas most susceptible in Jinja to join the drive to scale up the information flow to the locals and glance on message repackaging especially at the blink of donor shift and fatigue.
Dr. Rebecca Kivumbi Mayanja the manager HIV inter religious council of Uganda rallied religious leaders to be focal in propelling right information during shepherding following the swirling factors for the rise.
Kivumbi also cast doubt on the move by religious leaders to pray for the people infected with virus saying HIV is incurable calling on them to use a well-coordinated, multi-sectoral response and through strong coordination.
"We believe in prayers but however there is nothing that cures HIV," she said.
Religious leaders committed their involvement but however they expressed concerns ranging from " I don't care" tendencies among youths, as others refrain from following religious teachings that would have acted as catalysts.
Rev. Father. Chrysostom Kolya the vica Jinja orthodox church said attempts have been made in the fight but however religious leaders need to be sensitized to make the move a practical.
