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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Rites North Lango, a non-governmental organization operating in partnership with Aids Information Center-Uganda in nine districts of Lango has registered 1,500 young people living with HIV/AIDS to offer voluntary services to HIV clients. The recruits will be deployed at Apwori, Inomo, Chawente, Nambieso health center IIIs and Aduku health center IV.
They will be charged with the responsibility of mobilizing, supporting and sensitizing HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons, offering counselling and guidance and distributing ARV drugs to clients in hard to reach areas in the districts.
Oscar Ewaa, an ambassador representing the young people living with HIV/AIDS in Northern Uganda says the initiative is aimed at scaling down HIV/AIDS prevalence among youths and improve the welfare of young people living with HIV/AIDS.
According to Ewaa, the initiative will go a long way in reducing HIV/AIDS transmission in the communities and improve the livelihoods of the young people living with HIV/AIDS.
Some of the young adolescent peers who talked to Uganda Radio Network-URN on condition of anonymity asked government and development partners to offer them support in their bid to fight HIV/AIDS. They say that they are grappling with a lot of challenges from stigma and trekking long distances to pick ARV drugs among others that require support.
Joseph Hayuni, the managing director USAID-Rites North Lango, says the organisation is planning to register more than 4,500 volunteers, in addition to those already registered 1,500 to empower the young people living with HIV/AIDS in the entire Lango. He asked district health departments to closely supervise and encourage volunteers.
Sam Fang Omara, the Kwania district HIV focal person is optimistic that the development will reduce HIV prevalence in the district and improve drug adherence among HIV clients.
“Many clients on ARVs are not regularly taking their medication, some of the patients complain of hunger while some complain of lack of transport to reach health facilities, but now that the volunteers are recruited, drug adherence will improve,” he said in an interview on Monday.
Omara noted that skipping or abandoning treatment affects the reduction of the viral load and protection of the immune system. Records from Kwania district health department indicate that more than 70,000 people on Anti-Retroviral Treatment have abandoned treatment.
This is attributed to failure to access treatment due to lack of transport to health facilities and food.
USAID-Rites North Lango is working with support from JSI under Presidential Emergency Plan for Aids Relieve- PEPFAR.
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