Plans to end HIV/AIDS by 2030 hangs in balance

By Charles Katabalwa

18^th Oct 2022

The Chairperson of Parliamentary committee on HIV and related matters, Hon. Sarah Kayagi Netalisire says plans to meet the targets of ending AIDS by 2030 were affected by covid-19 pandemic.

While addressing journalists at media center today during the launch of three days National HIV and AIDS Symposium organized by Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) from the 8th to 10th November 2022 at Makerere University Business School Playground under the theme for the Symposium is Ending Inequalities among adolescent girls, young women and boys, Kayagi said the program to control HIV/AIDS was moving on well until when the pandemic hit the country ending up infecting the program especially access to medication.

Kayagi disclosed that during the period of the pandemic a total of 42,000 new HIV infections was reported and over 6,000 new born babies were registered which has caused a huge setback.

She has promised that parliament will continue advocating for more domestic resource allocation to fight HIV and AIDS

Meanwhile, the Director General UAC, Wilson Musoba said there is a need to bring together different Stakeholders in a Symposium to evaluate country’s performance and develop priorities for the next year in line with the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan adding the country has made progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS according to data released shows a reduction in HIV prevalence from 18% in the 80’s to 5.5% and a reduction in AIDS related deaths from 22,000 in 2020 to 17,000 deaths in 2021, Stigma and Discrimination has also reduced greatly however there is still work to be done.

The National HIV and AIDS symposium this year will feature a series of activities namely: the Annual Joint AIDS Review, Scientific Conference, Philly Lutaaya Lecture, Partnership Forum, HIV Financing Dialogue and Exhibitions.