Kampala — THE women peer educators in Iganga district have been asked to emphasize HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and family management so as to reduce spread of the virus which is increasing among married couples.

The executive director of Platform for Labour Action (PLA), Lillian Keene Mugerwa, said HIV/AIDS threatens livelihoods and productivity in the informal sector.

She said poor family planning and management, coupled with the scourge, had severe effects on women workers because of their roles of earning a living and caring for their sick relatives.

She made the remarks while closing a three-day training workshop for peer educators in Nambale sub-county in Iganga district at the sub-county headquarters on Saturday.

Mugerwa called upon the participants to sensitise the people on methods of controlling the spread of HIV.

She said the survey was carried out by Muna Community Based Association (MCBA) is based in Iganga and funded by PLA.

The survey found that the level of condom use in rural areas was low because married couples give it up after staying together for a long time.

"The level of condom use was low with only 32.6% of the sexually active respondents having used a condom the last time they had sex. Among them, sexually active female respondents who used condoms were 35.1% compared to the sexually active male respondents, at 25.5%," she said.

The workshop, on HIV/AIDS which had 44 residents, was organised by MCBA and PLA.

"These informal sector workers have been equipped with skills and knowledge on HIV/AIDS prevention, peer education and group dynamics," Mugerwa said.

She requested the Government through the ministry of health to supply public health centres with condoms since respondents complained that public health facilities do not often stock them.