The Head of prevention at Uganda Aids commission Dr. Daniel Byamukama has revealed that adolescent girls are consistently continuing to be disproportionately affected by HIV in Uganda.
Byamukama who was addressing the media about the Aids pandemic and its prevalence on May 7, 2024, at the Uganda Media Centre noted that uncircumcised men who were formerly married, divorced/separated, take second place in the number of new HIV infections.
“In terms of new HIV infections, we are seeing adolescent girls consistently continuing to be disproportionately affected. We noticed that uncircumcised men who were formerly married, divorced/separated, they take second place in the number of new HIV infections,” Byamukama said.
Byamukama added that formerly married women, divorced or separated women have also been ranked third in the number of new HIV infections.
“In third place, we see formerly married women and divorced/separated women taking the third rank in the number of new HIV infections. In fourth place, we see children born to HIV-positive mothers, and we see female sex workers coming in later,” Byamukama added.
The Minister of State for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Kyofatogabye Kabuye, who also addressed the media, however, said that Uganda has registered a reduction in the HIV prevalence from 18% registered in the 80s to 5.1% present day.
The Minister added that reduction in prevalence registered, the burden of HIV remains high with HIV prevalence being higher among women at 6.5% than men at 3.6%.
“Despite the success registered, the burden of HIV remains high with HIV prevalence being higher among women at 6.5% than men at 3.6%. Among older adolescents and young people, prevalence is almost four times higher among females than males,” the Minister said.
On May 17, 2024. Uganda will commemorate the International Candlelight Memorial Day in Hoima City with the aim to mobilize communities to stand in solidarity with families, who have lost their loved ones to AIDS.