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Uganda: Masindi Aids Patients Shun Taso Services Over Stigma
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The Monitor (Kampala)
18 September 2007
Posted to the web 17 September 2007
Joseph Miti
Masindi
PEOPLE living with HIV/Aids in Masindi District have shunned free kits from The Aids Support Organisation for fear of being stigmatised, the organisation has said.
The Kits contain antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs, condoms and other material useful to Aids patients.
"Clients refuse free offers from Taso because they don't want to be associated with it," a Taso official from Masindi, Dr Francis Nyakoojo said.
"Patients fear that if they associate themselves with Taso and are given kits, other people would know their status.
So they end up not coming for treatment yet they need the services."
Dr Nyakoojo was presenting the centre advisory committee report at the Taso Masindi 3rd Annual General Meeting in Masindi on September 16.
The meeting, which was presided over by Buruli County member of Parliament Kaahwa Amooti followed a long-week activaties that aimed at scaling up HIV prevention.
Mr Nyakoojo said despite community sensitisation, stigma remains a challenge to the HIV fight.
He said many people seek the organisation's assistance when their health situations are beyond manageable.
Masindi Centre Manager Joshua Wamboga said the district's prevalence rate is still worrying.
Referring to the centre's current statistics of people tested under the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Programme, the prevalence rate stands at 8 per cent, higher than 6 per cent of the country.
Taso Masindi also extends services to neighbouring districts of Bulisa, Hoima, Nakasongola and Kiboga.
Mr Wamboga said the centre has over 3,000 clients of which 1037 are male, 1893 are female and 221 are children.
Statistics indicate that women access Taso services more than men with a percentage of 65 and 35 respectively.
"With such a percentage, we start to wonder whether men don't get the virus or they are living with it but fear to approach the centre," Mr Wamboga noted.
He blamed men, saying many receive ARV treatment with out telling their wives and therefore put them at risk.
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Dr Charles Mukisa, of Kinyara Sugar Works, said it was harmful for Aids patient on ARVs to get intimate with partners who are not on treatment.
"One who uses ARV's is likely to get new infections whenever the couple have sex," Dr Mukisa said adding that, "This practice reduces the lifespan of the person using drugs."
Kinyara Sugar Works Limited pledged to give Taso Shs1 million every term to cover fees for positive children.
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