Religious leaders in Lango subregion have embarked on the fight of the rising cases of HIV/AIDs that is surging among the masses, especially young people.
The high prevalence rates are attributed to the way of life of community members that some do not mind about the lives of others and hence resort to spreading the disease to everybody.
Religious leaders ought to be the right persons to lead the fight of the epidemic by preaching the relevancy and possible ways of combating the killer.
During a clergy engagement organized by the Uganda AIDS Commission, the men of God strategized to spearhead the campaign of having the HIV curbed, following the country’s vision 2030 of HIV/AIDS free Uganda.
Held at Lango Diocese in Lira City East Division, the meeting attracted several leaders from the Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, Born Again churches, and the Muslim faith.
Victor Rwengabo, the Uganda AIDS Commission Mid North Zonal Coordinator, explains the importance of every citizen and stakeholder who has a responsibility to play in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Lango and the country at large.
He expressed the significance of the engagement, saying it aimed at bringing religious leaders together whose credibility in the fight remains important.
According to him, different bodies have come up with different plans to end the spread of the disease in line with the national strategic plan.
“From the national strategic plan, different entities come up with their own strategic plans so we have planned the HIV for the faith based sector and we expect them to come up with concrete priorities in their different churches that will help in the fight against the deadly virus since the HIV prevalence in this region,” said Rengabo.
Statistics show that the rate in Lira City is very high at 12.1 and is higher than the national rating prevalence. This is worrying, according to Rwengabo.
Lango sub region stands at 6.1%, whereas Lira City’s current rate of prevalence stands at 12.1%, which Dr Hillary Okello, the Lira City HIV/AIDS focal person calls for immediate intervention.
Okello’s report shows that 19,600 people are living with the virus, 1,851 new cases were registered between the months of September and October 2023 while a total of 919 expectant mothers tested positive during the first Antenatal Care and were enrolled into care in Lira City.
“Right from 1981 up to date, the kind of lives we used to live, our orientation and how society takes things have all changed, so that lifestyle is what has increased the virus, instead ARV has helped a lot because if people were on rampage, almost everybody would be dead by now,” said Dr Okello.
He says HIV can be combated, but the morals and behavioural aspect of it is vital, and the clergy can effectively handle such as they influence change in the society.
Rev Thomas Mike Obong, the General Secretary of Lango Religious Leaders Forum, echoes that a law should be ratified to protect the uninfected persons in order for the country to achieve vision 2030.
He says a lot has been done for infected people, and less is done for the uninfected persons, noting that those infected with HIV/AIDS are very sexually active.
“When you see a new lady in a community, they are always victims of these people who are infected, so there must be a law that protects those who are not infected so that the vision 2030 can work on well otherwise the infection is just going to increase because those who are on Antiretroviral care (ARVS) are really infecting others,” Obong said.
Whereas Rev Bosco Obonyo, the curate at All Saints Cathedral Boroboro, stated that community sensitizations have been done for local to underscore the dangers of the HIV/AIDS.
He says the church has always delivered messages concerning HIV/AIDS, decrying the laxity of certain laws, which he says are defeating their preaching against HIV.
“They sound simple but the consequence is very great, take for instance the law on Idleness and Disorderly, the parliament removed this law which is making fighting HIV/AIDS very difficult, as a religious leader, you give service and reach limits, your hands are tied,” Obonyo said.
Accordingly to Rev Canon Richard Opio Atoo, the Vicar of All Saints Cathedral Boroboro, the church has been facing a lot of challenges in fighting against the virus but the young people are ignorant on how to handle themselves especially when nature calls.
Opio’s experience indicates that many young and school going girls prefer contracting HIV/AIDS virus to getting pregnant because they will be taking the drugs once they test positive.
