The Weekly Observer (Kampala)
3 December 2008
editorial
It is 25 years since the HIV/AIDS pandemic was discovered. United Nations HIV/AIDS agency (UNAIDS) estimates indicate that there are 33 million people living with HIV. 2.5 million of these are said to be children.
In Uganda, the HIV/AIDS prevalence has stagnated at 6.4% over the last couple of years, having dropped from as high as 18% in the 1990s. This is not good news at all. Part of the problem is that people are still uncomfortable with voluntary HIV testing and counseling. This is made worse by the stigma imposed by society on those who declare their HIV status or are believed to have the virus.
Researchers have concluded that people who know their sero status are more likely to behave responsibly in sexual matters than those who do not.
This finding makes testing critical in the fight against the pandemic.
This year's World AIDS Day theme is 'Leadership'. This theme should galvanise Ugandans, particularly leaders, to go for voluntary HIV testing. Our leaders can spur this campaign through leading by example. This would inspire and influence citizens to take up the challenge of testing and fighting the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
In Tanzania, President Jakaya Kikwete and his cabinet and Members of Parliament decided to go for voluntary HIV testing in public some time back. The results were immense. Many Tanzanians have since warmed up to testing.
HIV Testing will help the country plan for drugs, counseling services and empower those living with the disease to live better lives.
However, as we encourage people to go for testing, we should be careful about the introduction of laws that criminalise transmitting the disease. Whereas it is understandable that individuals who spread the disease intentionally should pay for their crime, blanket punishment of those suspected of infecting others might erode the gains already made. There should be some discretional powers left to the judge to decide each case on its own merit. Otherwise criminalising infection may reinforce stigma and complicate voluntary testing even more.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Weekly Observer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
