Kampala — OVER 1,515 people in Pallisa district, including the Minister of Health, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, have been tested for HIV. This was during a function at Butebo Health Centre IV in Butebo county on Monday.

The 'Testing Millions' campaign, an annual event, was conducted by Uganda Cares, a local NGO, and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a community-based HIV/AIDS medical provider in Uganda.

Of the people who were tested, the Uganda Cares project coordinator, Dr. Kate Ssamula, said only 24 were found to be HIV-positive. The one-day event also involved counselling and distribution of condoms to the residents.

Mallinga was flanked by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation chief of medicine in Africa, Bernard Okongo, and the country director, Dr. Lydia Buzaalirwa.

The minister said the Government was committed to having all Ugandans tested for HIV.

Okongo said access to anti-retroviral (ARVs) treatment is impossible until all people can access free, rapid HIV testing.

Buzaalirwa said: "Testing millions will help make universal access to treatment and prevention a reality in Uganda and the world over."

The residents, however, said they did not have easy access to ARVs and condoms.