The Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS visited Tororo Thursday where the leaders said the battle against HIV needs urgent attention.
Led by chairperson, Hon Sarah Kayagi, the committee was in the eastern boarder district on oversight and assessment of HIV/AIDS amongst the key populations.
They held a stakeholders engagement that was attended by top district officials led by the Deputy RDC, Mr. Albert Amula, Deputy Mayor of Tororo municipality, Achola Beatrice, DHo, Obbo Okoth, HIV/AIDS Partners and key populations among others.
Information at the ministry of health indicates that the prevalence of HIV was at 6% in Tororo in the year 2020.
It is further indicated that there are 893 new infections diagnosed and 879 that have started on ART.
Persons living with HIV/AIDS in Tororo informed the committee that there is need to extend support to their people instead of limiting resources to people in Kampala.
The committee chairperson Hon Sarah Kayagi informed members that her team was in the district to assess and interact with key population on HIV/AIDS and make a report in regards to HIV/AIDS service delivery considering the high prevalence.
She further enumerated the anti-homosexuality bill that was passed by Parliament and how it incorporates rehabilitation and treatment of victims.
On his part, Mr. Amula thanked the committee for passing the anti-homosexuality bill and requested them to take the lead in sensitizing communities about the bill once it’s assented to by the president. He said this would safeguard our morales and integrity as a country.
He also urged them to also ensure that the AIDS Trust Fund is operationalised and to use their mandate to appropriate more money to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“Since some of the donors who have been funding the sector are set to pull out because of the anti-homosexuality bill, the is now for you to operationalize the fund,” he said.
