Abandoning people living with HIV is inhuman and criminal

On April 2, NTV run a sad story of a boy living with HIV in Kabarole District, who was abandoned by his relatives. The boy, who looked malnourished, tired and hopeless is only helped by good Samaritans to access food and other necessities. He is not alone.
A number of similar cases have been reported in the country, including one on March 19 where New Vision carried a story of a15-year-old girl living with HIV in Tororo together with her sibling, who who have abandoned by their father. The father beat her and locked her in the house and warned them against seeking HIV treatment.
The Daily Monitor of March 27 carried a story of helpless and barely walking HIV positive Hajira Mukyala of Nawampiti in Luuka District, whose husband and relatives abandoned her and she now lives at the mercy of well-wishers.
Many of such cases go unnoticed. Today, with the 7.3 per cent HIV prevalence in the country, according to Uganda Aids Commission, the nation is struggling with more than 4.5 million people living with the HIV pandemic, of which 47 per cent are children.
Despite Uganda targeting to end HIV/Aids by 2030 through the Presidential Fast-track Initiative, many of us still promote stigma and discrimination among those living with the virus. Stigmatisation and cruel treatment HIV?Aids victims must be condemned.
In the case of children who contract the virus (most likely from their parents, particularly through mother-to-child transmission), we need to give them much support and not mistreat them.
Those who have accepted to seek medication like the girl in Tororo, should be encouraged. Stop discriminating against them. Their caretakers should help them access treatment and counselling services. In addition, through its agencies and departments, the government ought to ensure that the rights of people living with HIV are not abused.
If Uganda is to achieve the 5th Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating HIV/Aids by 2030, she should reinforce her line institutions to effectively coordinate the country’s response to the pandemic. If coordinated multi-sectoral response is lacking, prioritising HIV/Aids as a national development issue that affects all sectors is a dream. Beloved Ugandans, together we can have an Aids-free generation and achieve Vision 2040.
Annet Nakibuuka.
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