Participants at the Judiciary Health Camp at the Mpigi High Court
"If the spread of HIV/AIDs is to be stemmed, there is a need to factor in massage, sauna, and steam parlors," Mr. Hassan Kasibante, the Mpigi district Resident District Commissioner (RDC), said.
Speaking at the Judiciary's health Camp held on September 29, 2023, at Mpigi High Court, Kasibante, who is the President's representative in the district said saunas and massage parlors have played a key role in the spread of HIV in the district. Mr. Kasibante advised that since a lot of sexual activities go on in those places there's a need to institute mandatory HIV testing on all workers in those places. "I think every three months these girls who work in sauna and massage parlors should be tested because from my observation, we are sitting on a time bomb," Mr. Kasibante said. "People may oppose this because guidelines say that testing is voluntary but for me, I have already putmy proposals to the president."
Mr. Kasibante also said that there is a need to make HIV/AIDs testing compulsory for all those who go to health centres. "Even if a person comes to the health centre saying they should test him or her for Malaria, the doctors should order the laboratory technicians to do an HIV test," Mr. Kasibante said. "This will save a lot of lives rather than waiting for people to voluntarily test."
In her speech, at the Camp which was organized under the theme Ending Aids by 2030: Communities leading in HIV Prevention and Care. Hon. Lady Justice Flavia Nabakooza, rallied court goers and Staff of the Judiciary to turn up at the camp such that they can be tested for a number of diseases that included HIV/AIDs, sugar levels, hypertension, Cervica land Prostate cancer screening, tuberculosis among other things.
The Commissioner Human Resource, Ms Apophia N.Tumwine, who represented the Chairperson of the Judiciary HIV Committee said the Judiciary had embarked on mainstreaming HIV and AIDS activities in all its programmes. "We are doing this through health awareness camps such as these where the Judiciary undertakes sensitization of the staff and communities through media talk shows, sharing of messages with a view to change behaviour and sharing inspiring testimonies by people living with HIV and AIDS."
Dr Stephen Watiti, a person living with HIV called on the judicial officers to treat people living with HIV humanely." We are all human let's treat each other humanely," Dr. Watiti said in his presentation.
On behalf of the Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Dan Byamukama said it's still possible to end the spread of HIV/ AIDS by 2030. He said in order to achieve that objective, stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS must end.
Adding that it is also possible that by 2030 HIV/AIDS related deaths will be a thing of the past. To avoid deaths, he said people must abstain, be faithful and or use condoms. Those who are infected, Dr Byamukama said, should adhere to the treatment regimen given by medical officers.
Posted 28th, September 2023
