Participants at the Judiciary Health Awareness Camp at Luwero High Court.
Luwero Resident Judge, Hon. Lady Justice Henrietta Wolayo, has commended the Judiciary administration for its zeal to improve the wellbeing of all its staff by holding regular health camps.
This she said while flagging off the Judiciary Health Awareness Camp at Luwero High Court.
The Camp offered health screenings, testing for non-communicable diseases, health talks and survivor testimonies from people living with HIV.
The Camp was held under the theme; "Ending Inequalities Among Adolescent Girls, Young Women, and Boys."
Hon. Lady Wolayo commended the Judiciary for ensuring that staff affected and infected are not stigmatized at the workplace in line with international protocols.
The Under Secretary, Ms Maureen Kasande, who doubles as the Chairperson of the HIV Committee, which organized the Camp, said her Committee derives its mandate from the Presidential Fast Track Initiative on ending AIDS by 2030. The Initiative requires all MDAs to undertake and have committed activities aims at streamlining HIV awareness activities. "We want to provide an enabling environment for the elimination of HIV/Aids-related stigma at the workplace," she said.
Ms. Hope Murungi, the Coordinator of Private Sector and Civil Society at the Uganda AIDS Commission explained that a multi-sectoral approach is being used to carry out resource mobilization, allocation, tracking, and reporting of HIV in Uganda.
Statistics
She reported that 1.4 million people are still living with HIV, and 1.3 million are on treatment. She added that on average, the country has a prevalence of 5.5per cent with 54,000 new infections and 17,000 deaths annually. "HIV infections are high in urban areas and we must contribute towards an AIDS-free society. HIV mainstreaming should be looked at and responded to both internally and externally. In Luwero 6.6 per cent of the prevalence rates are between ages of15-49, while Nakaseke and Nakasongola is at 5.10 per cent," she said.
The reasons for high HIV transmissions were attributed to culture, gender inequality, rights, and opportunities, multiple concurrent partners, transactional sex, low condom usage, cross-generational and early sex, discordance and nondisclosure, alcohol use, sexually transmitted infections and lack of circumcision.
She said HIV can be managed through the promotion of an equal and just society, investing in high-quality schools for young people, advocating for economic opportunities to break the cycle of poverty, addressing the challenges of stigmatization, empowering girls and women, and improving access to healthcare.
Dr Stephen Waititi advocated for the management of the virus urging people living with HIV to adhere to taking medication at the right time and in the right doses to suppress their viral load. He applauded the positive progress of Uganda.
"We are chasing the goal of achieving zero new infections, zero Aids-related deaths, and zero discrimination of HIV victims," he said.
In his presentation, the Public Policy Coordinator of the National TB and Leprosy Programme, Mr Mathias Mwesige said the plan is to tuberculosis in HIV advocacy programmes.
He noted that these are inextricably linked with about 90 deaths happening per day due to the catastrophic costs incurred. "TB deaths need to be brought down by community awareness campaigns and stakeholders taking action since it affects national development and realization of the National Development Plan III," he reported.
Dr John Omagino, the Executive Director of the Uganda Heart Institute, said non communicable diseases are increasing due to the adoption of new lifestyles with a high intake and low outtake.
He advocated for better living by eating fruits and greens in the right quantities and exercising frequently.
Ms Elizabeth Kasirye Omagino, from the Ministry of Health called for regular cervical cancer screening to promote early detection and prevention of diseases. She hailed Judiciary for taking the lead to promote healthcare awareness and support to its staff.
Ms Dorcas Nankunda who gave an overview of the Judiciary HIV Workplace Policy noted that it aims at fighting stigma and providing interventions that mainstream HIV activities. "The HIV workplace policy is to promote employee rights at the workplace by recognizing that HIV is a workplace issue, supporting its victims, and ensuring that they are living healthily," she said.
The local leaders applauded the Judiciary for such inclusive initiatives that are not only focused on adjudication but also healthy living. This, they said, promotes productivity, show how Judiciary is transforming, and increases knowledge. They also appreciated the testimonies of people living with HIV which instills hope.
Posted 30th, March 2023
