The Director General Uganda AIDS Commission, Christine Ondoa has launched a campaign dubbed “Zip up 256” aimed at young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The campaign, which is spearheaded by young HIV/AIDS activists, is intended to reach out to schools and universities using entertainment and testimonies by youth infected with the virus.
“The HIV prevalence rate among the youth is at 4 percent. If we concentrate on them, they will be able to reduce the prevalence rate in the future,” Ondoa said, adding that the prevalence broken down between boys and girls is at 1.1 percent.
She further explained that this prevalence however shoots up to 5 percent when girls move to university, saying that they are more vulnerable since they engage in multiple sexual relationships and cross generational sex, the main drivers of new infections.
The other drivers she said include, social structural and gender norms, social economic and violation of human rights especially for women and girls and cultural practices like the Imbalu festivities which involves uncontrolled activity coupled with alcohol consumption. “What will you expect?” she wondered.
She said much as circumcision has so many benefits, including reducing the risk of infection, it does not protect one from acquiring the virus. “Some young people say being circumcised is like having a permanent condom on.”
Ondoa was explaining the factors fueling the epidemic to a group of youth at the National Theatre on Tuesday during the launch.
Cecilia Okoth and Aisha Naiga
New Vision
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