World AIDS Day

Cinderella has a happy ending to her story but unfortunately Uganda is far from finding their missing glass slipper.

In the 90’s Uganda showed a sharp reduction of their AIDS rate and thus it was claimed as being a Cinderella story.  This time period brought on a new inspiration of programs and strategies to fight the disease in many developing countries.   

In the past year an American financed survey was administered and it discovered that Uganda, along with Chad, are the only two African countries where AIDS is on the rise.  The survey discovered that current infection rates have increased to 7.3 percent from 6.4 percent in 2005.  It is estimated that during this same time period, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PEPFAR, has spent $1.7 billion to fight this fight but clearly more work needs to be done.

One unique factor coming from this survey is it was discovered that the increase is not only in urban areas but rural ones as well.  Urban areas have traditionally been expected to have a higher rate due to the higher number of commercial sex workers and slums.  The increase in rural Uganda can be attributed to adult husbands and wives spreading the disease through infidelity. 

Health professionals are pointing their finger at the Ugandan government and their complacency since their international recognition and immense amounts of financial aid for its previous efforts.  These previous winning strategies can be accredited to the grassroots behavioral change campaigns.  This includes the ever so popular ABC model, abstinence, be faithful, and use condoms. 

This survey found out that 90 percent of Ugandans acknowledge fidelity but 25 percent of married men stated they had multiple, sexual partners. 75 percent were knowledgeable about condoms but less than 8 percent of married men having sex with someone other than their wife were using protection.  The illegal act of homosexuality has further added fuel to the AIDS fire.  Approximately half of men who have sex with other men fail to use a condom. 

Clearly something is not working.

As someone who works with an organization that works with individuals infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, I can say that with readily available and effective medical treatment, that has grown less expensive due to international aid, the panic of HIV has decreased.

Today we celebrate World AIDS Day and this is an incredibly important issue.  My organization and I celebrated the day by working with the local government to mobilize on the town grounds, which would accommodate to a wide variety of people.  Testing and counseling were available along with resources in the community working towards ending this fight, education on the disease, songs and dance, and guest speakers.  While the day brought out hundreds of community members I know that this is only the beginning.  Northern Uganda has a prevalence rate of 8.3 percent but Kitgum Town Council is at 11 percent!

This disease is not to be given just a day of recognition and I am committed to work hard in continuing to help fight towards the end of this disease.

I don’t want to see the shocked and somehow heartbroken faces of people finding out their positive status for the first time like I did today.

Positive or negative you can live a very rewarding life but you will only ever know by testing.  One prick, ten minutes later and your life will be forever changed.

For the better.