KAMPALA – The number of men testing for HIV/AIDS has increased in Uganda.
According to findings released Monday by the office of the president, over 2,179,692 men (above 15years) tested during 2017.
As a result, the country has registered an improvement in stocks of HIV medicines and commodities.
In the 1st quarter of 2018, stock out of test kits decreased from 66% to 38% and from 47% and 22% for first line HIV drugs.
The Ministry of Health has thus revised the 2016 HIV treatment guidelines to provide for more efficient differentiated models to deliver HIV treatment services; and reach the underserved population groups.
“The Country has successfully integrated elimination of mother to child transmission services into Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) in all Health Centre III and above. Integration indicators of interest include; HIV testing Services, ART, Tuberculosis screening on (RMNCAH) side and Cervical cancer screening, HPV immunization, STI & GBV management and pregnancy screening on the HIV side.
“The National Sexuality Education Framework was launched and is widely being used to reach the learners and care givers in the country to curb new infections among young people,” reads the report.
This has been attributed to the Presidential Fast-Track Initiative (PFTI) on Ending AIDS as Public health threat by 2030 which was launched last year.
In addition, Uganda AIDS Commission held three Accountability Forums with the purpose of amplifying the community voices in policy formulation and accountability for leaders.
Furthermore these forums have helped to get feedback from their leaders on key HIV issues affecting communities.
These have been held in Mid Northern Region in Kole district, Hoima and in Namayingo district in the East Central region.
For the period June to December 2018, the Commission and Stakeholders will hold five accountability forums in the regions of central, West Nile, southwestern, Karamoja and Eastern Uganda.
The Commission had engagements with several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the HIV/AIDS Committee, the Presidential Affairs and the Health Committees of Parliament.
Meanwhile, of the 2,179,692 men who tested in 2017, 69,854 (3.1%) were found HIV/AIDS positive.
