Aids in Uganda

Raising AIDS awareness

Uganda took an early lead on AIDS awareness and education and this has led to a decrease in the incidence of HIV infection. But while statistics for the country as a whole show that the new infection rate has been decreasing since 1992, the number of AIDS cases has continued to rise as existing HIV patients develop AIDS. Because AIDS has mainly affected the 20 to 40 age group this has had a major effect on the country’s economy. Grandparents and even great grandparents with little earning capacity are having to look after the orphans. Children are being born with HIV and it is estimated that 110,000 children under the age of 15 years are living with HIV/AIDS. 85,000 children are estimated to have died of AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses since the beginning of the epidemic.

No baseline survey has been carried out in Kalangala but anecdotally it has been suggested that the incidence of HIV infection is very high indeed. The itinerant lifestyle of fishermen, the high level of alcohol consumption and the lack of options for women and girls encourage promiscuous behaviour. Early ‘marriages’ (some girls are as young as 12 years) often to men with existing families elsewhere, are common. “The AIDS scourge has continued to claim many people in the district due to the ‘don’t care’ attitude exhibited mainly among the youth” (Socio-economic Survey 2000).

HIV testing was introduced in Kalangala in 2004. Although most children have not been tested it may be assumed that a number of children with affected parents are HIV positive. Children who come to the HUG project on the main island are tested for HIV and STDs, and treated if necessary.