Kalangala district leaders have expressed fear over HIV/AIDS-positive fishermen and residents who are shunning treatment.

The district HIV/AIDS focal person, Dr. Edward Muwanga, said whereas there were opportunities for people living with the virus to access drugs, many people in Kalangala do not seize the opportunity.

"The opportunities are instead being utilised by people from other districts," Muwanga said on Tuesday at the launch of Walter Clinic, an initiative of Bujumba MP Fred Badda.

The clinic is supported by the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Kampala-based Strides for Better Health.

It provides free services to expectant mothers, children and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Badda said fishermen were taking less precautions to guard against HIV/AIDS because they consider it a simple disease like malaria.

He said the rate at which the disease was spreading in Kalangala was alarming.