Zurah Nakabugo
31 July 2007
Kampala — LACK of food has exposed internally displaced people and refugees in camps especially women and children to high risk of contracting HIV/Aids, the director general of Uganda Aids Commission has said.
In a speech read for him by the director Planning and Monitoring Rose Nalwadda, Dr Kihumuro Apuuli said conditions in the camps have forced young women to use their bodies for sexual gratification to get food and other basic needs.
"Young women and girls in camps are forced offer their bodies to get food and clothing for themselves and their families.
"It is evident the HIV/Aids prevalence is higher in areas affected by conflicts especially in northern Uganda," Dr Kihumuro said.
He cited the Ministry of Health surveillance reports of 2003 that put the HIV/Aids prevalence rate in Lacor Hospital in Gulu at 16 per cent compared to the national average of six per cent.
Dr Kihumuro said most women and girls are raped and defiled when they go to look for food.
"Although HIV/Aids is known as the biggest problem affecting IDPs, it's not seen as a big problem to them (IDPs). They have a general feeling that HIV takes long to kill compared to rebel attacks or hunger," Dr Kihumuro said.
According to the MoH Sero Behavioural Survey 2005, the current prevalence rate of HIV/Aids for north central is seven per cent for men and nine per cent for women, which is higher compared to other regions in the country.
War in northern Uganda has threatened food security in that area traditionally known to be very productive.
"United Nations estimates that more than 75 per cent of the population in northern Uganda depend on the food from the World Food Programme," Dr Kihumuro said.
He said the destruction of basic social welfare, health infrastructure and population displacement has caused the biggest problems in IDPs.
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