By Sarah Adongo
Gulu, May 9, 2008: HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among children in Gulu district is alarming despite a decrease among adults.
The district HIV/AIDS Focal Point Person in Gulu, John Charles Luwa, revealed this while presenting the district position on HIV/AIDS prevalence at a stakeholders’ workshop at the teachers’ resource centre this week.
Luwa explained that the recent research carried out in Gulu indicates a slight decrease of HIV/AIDS prevalence among adults and an increase among children.
He appealed to the partners to work together in developing a programme that will help scale down the prevalence.
His comments concurred with those of the head of strategic planning the Baylor College of Medicine UK.
Dr. Wilfred Ocan Lokol observed that a majority of children born with the AIDS virus cannot access anti-retroviral treatment and consequently die early.
Meanwhile, Gulu District Secretary for Community and Social Services, Santa Oketta, has advised HIV/AIDS agencies operating in Northern Uganda have to take their services to returnees in the villages.
She was opening a one-day AIDS Annual Partnership Forum organized by Uganda AIDS Commission at Teachers Resource Centre in Gulu Town this week.
Oketta, who represented the district Chairman Norbert Mao, also said it was important to reach everybody who is affected with the virus but not only those infected with HIV.
She expressed concern over the high rate of HIV infection in the district in spite of the vigorous public sensitization against the disease.
Filed under: Gulu Uganda
