NEWS: Irish envoy irked by HIV rate

Irish envoy irked by HIV rate

Monday, 23rd March, 2009 from NEW VISION

THE Irish ambassador to Uganda has expressed concern over the stagnated national HIV prevalence rate, which ranges between 6 and 7%. Kevin Kelly regretted that despite the many interventions by the Government, the prevalence rate had almost doubled in urban areas. He noted that although there were changing trends in the HIV epidemic in the last 20 years, the response was poor. Kelly made the remarks while handing over computers and accessories to AIDS focal persons from 50 districts at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Thursday. The computers, he said, were aimed at coordinating and strengthening HIV/AIDS programmes at the local government level. The Irish government has provided 1.3m euros over three years to support HIV/AIDS programmes run by local governments. Kelly added that the Irish government provides a total of 50m euros in aid to Uganda annually. Local government state minister Perez Ahabwe thanked the Irish government for its continued support to Uganda. Peter Muwanga, the chairperson of the Alliance of Mayors’ Initiatives at Community Level, advised the focal persons to send HIV messages cautiously and accurately. “If you do not want to use condoms, please keep quiet, but do not send conflicting messages,” he warned. The director general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, in a statement read by Rose Nalwadda, the director for planning, said the increase in HIV-infections, especially among married couples, should be checked.