Winnie Byanyima the Executive Director of the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS-UNAIDS says the strength within communities, inspired by a shared responsibility to each other that has contributed in great part to our victories over HIV. ‘‘it is only global solidarity and shared responsibility that will help us beat the coronavirus, end the AIDS epidemic and guarantee […]
Winnie Byanyima the Executive Director of the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS-UNAIDS says the strength within communities, inspired by a shared responsibility to each other that has contributed in great part to our victories over HIV.
‘‘it is only global solidarity and shared responsibility that will help us beat the coronavirus, end the AIDS epidemic and guarantee the right to health for all,” Byanyima says
She was releasing her statement as the world commemorates HIV/AIDS day today, under the theme ending HIV/AIDS Endemic; Resilience and impact.
Byanyima says much as COVID-19 has made vulnerable the fight against HIV/AIDS, the HIV movement has mobilized to protect people living with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable groups.
‘’COVID-19 is threatening the progress that the world has made in health and development over the past 20 years, including the gains we have made against HIV. I am proud that over the past year the HIV movement has mobilized to defend our progress, to protect people living with HIV and other vulnerable groups, and to push the coronavirus back.’’ Byanyima said
She adds that the response to the fight against HIV/AIDS has shrunk also because of many barriers besides COVID-19.
‘’Our goal of ending the AIDS epidemic was already off track before COVID-19. We must put people first to get the AIDS response back on track. We must end the social injustices that put people at risk of contracting HIV. And we must fight for the right to health. There is no excuse for governments to not invest fully in universal access to health. Barriers such as up-front user fees that lock people out of health must come down.’’
By the end of 2019, Uganda had 53,000 new HIV infections which are approximately 1000 infections every week, with a large proportion of this occurring between youths aged 15- 25 years.
Dr Nelson Musoba, the Director-General Uganda AIDS Commission attributes the rise in infection to the Covid-19 induced lockdown as patients could not access medication easily or those wishing to test for HIV could not access health facilities.
He says the ARV medication therapy should never be disrupted.
Health experts have revealed that COVID-19 is also threatening the progress that the world has made in health and development over the past 20 years.
Uganda today commemorate AIDS Day under the theme, “National solidarity and a shared responsibility towards ending AIDS’’
