The Minister for presidency Esther Mbayo has urged Men to stand at the forefront of voluntary HIV testing to contain its spread.
Mbayo while addressing the Media on Wednesday ahead of the World Aids Day happening on December 1st noted that Men often lure young girls into sex hence leading to not only the spread of HIV but High teenage pregnancies in Uganda.
The Minister for Presidency says world aids day gives Uganda an opportunity to review the progress of the country is making under the presidential fast track initiative on ending new HIV infections by 2030.
She said this year’s national celebrations will be held in Busana sub-county Kayunga district under the theme ”Engaging youth and young people to champion the end of new HIV infections’ and President Museveni is expected to grace the event as chief guest.
The Minister said Kayunga district was chosen because of the high HIV prevalence rates and teenage pregnancies in the district that currently stands at 7.4 and 24 percent respectively, she attributes to this to the high presence of most at-risk populations of migrant workers and fishermen.
She said young people between 15-24 years contribute to 34percent of new HIV infections annually.
Mbayo also said that a public lecture will on December 29 be conducted in memory of the late Philly Bongole Lutaaya under the theme ”Sustainability of Uganda’s HIV and AIDS Response beyond 2020” in recognition of his effort in breaking the stigma and discrimination around HIV/AIDS.
