Anisa Mahfoodh
5 March 2008
Lira — THE parliamentary committee on HIV/Aids visited the northern districts to assess the situation of the disease after the war.
A group of 22 MPs led by the chairman of the committee, Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, were appalled by the situation of the people living with HIV/Aids many of whom don't have access to the life saving anti-retroviral treatment.
"The people in northern Uganda need serious attention on HIV/Aids, and more sensitisation," Dr Elioda said. The one-week visit, which started on February 24-29 covered the five northern districts of Lira, Apac, Gulu, Oyam and Amuru.
This part of the country has been under war and poverty for the past 20 years forcing young girls into prostitution resulting in high levels of the disease.
Kinkiizi East MP Chris Baryomunsi said the central region alone has a prevalence rate of 8.5 per cent HIV/Aids.
The MPs visited Lira Aids information center, which has been receiving students from different secondary schools who come to test for HIV.
"This has been more encouraging because even the Aids cases are reducing in the region, as people are becoming more aware of the dangers of the disease," Lira woman MP Rebecca Amuge said.
"Men are still reluctant to come for the test, it's the women who are more active. This has also affected the districts because one partner will know her status and the other doesn't.
That's the reason the government should sensitise the north so that more people tend to lag behind," Ms Amuge said.
She said generally people are still scared to go for HIV tests. "With the signing of the peace agreement, it will help the people of the north to live a normal life," she said.
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