By Bukuri k Kakooza
The very high rate of HIV infection experienced in Uganda during the 1980s and early 1990s created an urgent need for people to know their HIV status. Though by that time the only option available to them was offered by the National Blood Transfusion Service, which carried out routine HIV tests on all the blood that was donated for transfusion purposes. The great need for testing and counseling resulted in a group of local non-governmental organizations such as The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), Uganda Red Cross, Nsambya Home Care, National Blood Bank, Uganda Virus Research Institute together with Ministry of Health establishing the AIDS Information Centre in 1990. This organization worked to provide HIV testing and counseling services with the knowledge and consent of the client involved.
In Uganda, HIV/AIDS was approached as more than a health issue and in 1992 a Multi-sectoral AIDS Control Approach was adopted. In addition, the Uganda AIDS Commission, was also founded in 1992, and it helped to develop a national HIV/AIDS policy. A variety of approaches to AIDS education was employed, ranging from the promotion of condom use to ‘abstinence only’ programs.
Uganda’s efforts in establishing a comprehensive HIV/AIDS program, in 2000 Ministry of Health implemented birth practices and safe infant feeding counseling. According to the WHO, around 41,000 women received Preventing Mother To child Transmission (PMTCT) services in 2001. Uganda was the first country to open a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) clinic in Africa called AIDS Information Centre and pioneered the concept of voluntary HIV testing centers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Government, through PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI, promoted this as a success story in the fight against HIV and AIDS, arguing it has been the most effective national response to the pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of corona virus disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus. The virus was confirmed to have reached Uganda in March 2020.
With President Museveni and his Experience in Fighting Pandemics and NRM Government at the helm of fighting COVID 19 Ugandans should be assured that it will also come and End, Simply Let’s follow the SOPS and get Prepared for Vaccination the Situation will Come to Normal.
BUKURI K KAKOOZA (NRM Cadre)
0702123989(Whatsap)
0787363889
Kakoozabukuri51@gmail.com
