Kakaire A. Kirunda
6 March 2008
Kampala — PARLIAMENT is set to recognise individuals and organizations that have played a role in the fight against HIV/Aids over the last 25 years.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Chairperson of Parliament's Committee on HIV/Aids, Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, in an interview with Daily Monitor.
"On March 12, motions will be moved to recognize all the stakeholders who have contributed to the HIV/Aids struggle since the early days of the pandemic. The committee that I chair will also present a status report on HIV/Aids in the country on that day," said the medic-cum-politician.
Although Tumwesigye declined to name those who will be recognized, he said the late Philly Lutaaya will not miss out, adding that the final list would be ready this week. Lutaaya, a popular musician in the 1980s, was the first public figure to openly talk about his HIV-positive status in 1989.
Lutaya's public disclosure marked the beginning of the fight against stigma and silence as more people slowly started speaking freely about their HIV status.
The committee, disclosed Dr Tumwesigye, is sitting today to finalise the list of those that will be recognized. Nonetheless, sources intimated to Daily Monitor that the Bakayimbira drama group would be recognized for its Ndiwulira production of the early 90s which often left theatre-goers sobbing.
A music concert, on March 13, will precede the final award presentation ceremony at Kasensero Landing Site in Rakai where the first cases of HIV/Aids are traced.
According to Dr Tumwesigye, Speaker Edward Ssekandi will lead the parliamentarians, diplomats, government officials and several stakeholders to the districts of Masaka and Rakai.
Asked why it has taken parliament 25 years to bring HIV and Aids to the fore, Dr Tumwesigye said "it is an opportune moment due to the complacency which is beginning to set in."
"The prevalence rate of 6.4 per cent is still of concern and cases might be increasing. The availability of antiretroviral drugs has made people to relax. We need to re-energize the fight and as leaders we need to show the way," he added.
By the end of 1992, the national prevalence rate was estimated at 18.3 per cent with some centres registering rates above 30 per cent.
However efforts from several stakeholders have over the years seen a downward shift to the current prevalence of 6.4 percent, which remains unacceptable according to public health experts.
Of concern to parliament, is the fact that over 80 per cent of the population is ignorant of their HIV status.
"Because of this we are seeing close to 30,000 children born annually with HIV transmitted from their parents. This is an absurd thing which can be avoided," Dr Tumwesigye said.
The 2004/05 National HIV/Aids sero and behaviour survey by the Ministry of Health Surveillance Unit estimated about 915,400 adults and children were living with HIV/Aids in 2005.
Prevalence among adults aged 15-49 years was estimated at 6.4 per cent, 0.7 per cent among children less than 5 years, and 5.8 percent among those aged 50-59. The Ministry of Health estimated 132,500 new infections in 2005 alone.
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