Day

By Wilson Asiimwe

in Kasese—-

Ever since scientists discovered that parents with HIV can produce HIV free
babies to most parents this has been a myth since some of the people living
with HIV give up on giving birth.

However for many women in Kasese the prevention of mother to child program
(PMTCT) has been a success as the number of women living with HIV giving
birth to HIV free babies is up.

According to Faith Kwebaze Makombo the coordinator of National Community of
Women living with HIV-Kasese (NACWOLA) most women have embraced the PMTCT
program and they are producing HIV free babies.

Makombo says that according to the records available at their offices out
of every 10 births under PMTCT program 8 are negative while two are
positive which implies that the program is performing very well.

The records show that out of the mothers who enrolled in PMCT in the last
four years, the number has increased by 100.

The indicator shows that in 2008/2009, only 1,237 were enrolled on ARV
prophylaxis out of the 3, 737 women who were tested HIV positive during
Antenatal Care visits.

In 2015/2016, a total of 373 were tested HIV positive but 166 were put on
the ARV prophylaxis which counts for over 67 percent.

Meanwhile in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, a total of 5, 403 mothers were tested
HIV positive but only 3, 782 are reported to be on ARV prophylaxis.

Addressing the media recently the Kasese district health educator Samuel
Kasimba said that the PMTCT program is one of the best performing programs
in the control of HIV among the unborn and newly born babies.

Kasimba however noted that they still have some challenges which don’t have
accredited health facilities to offer antiretroviral services.

He said that the Sub Counties of Kisinga, Bwera, Bwesumbu, Isango and
Buhuhira are the most affected.

Rehema Aryema a board member of NACWOLA says that some pregnant women fear
to go health centers because of stigmatization by health workers.

“I gave birth to my child 8 years back but I have realized that there are
some health workers who still stigmatize people living with HIV and because
of that others opt out of health centers,” says Aryema.

The new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on administering
antiretroviral treatment are attributed to the increase in the Uganda’s
burden of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.

The World health Organization (WHO) in its new guidelines, released in
2009, recommend that HIV positive people should be started on ARVs at
immunity levels of 350 cells in every cubic milliliter of blood (CD4
count), rather than at 200, that has been the general global standard. The
new guidelines where based on new research which shows that the earlier
people living with HIV start taking ARVs, the longer they live. Pregnant
mothers living with HIV may also have to start taking ARVs at 14 weeks of
pregnancy. But mothers in Uganda before the guidelines were started on
ARVs, between 28 and 32 weeks.

Aryema, says that the burden of giving pregnant mothers ARVs to prevent
infection of their unborn babies becomes higher, because it involves a
higher treatment

According to the Aids Control Program, there are about 91,000 pregnant
women living with HIV in Uganda every year. About 60 percent of these
qualify for antiretroviral treatment.

In 2008, ARVs for pregnant mothers living with HIV were changed from just
Nevirapine syrup, to a combination of drugs in order to deal with
resistance to treatment.

According to the Uganda Aids Commission, about 350, 000 more are in need of
treatment.

A recent AIDS survey indicator shows that only half of the estimated
150,000 children infected with HIV in Uganda are receiving care, the other
half lacks vital HIV/AIDS care and less are receiving Anti Retroviral
Treatment (ART).

The survey also indicates that Ugandan children currently constitute 16% of
new infections, while HIV prevalence in mothers is 7.5% meaning that babies
born to these mothers are exposed to HIV

In 2012 a new policy to scale up the Prevention of Mother to Child HIV
Transmission-PMTCT in the country was unveiled by Ministry of health.

The Option B+ policy which was unveiled in 2012 during the 6th Annual
National Pediatric Conference in Kampala is one of the policies recommended
by the World Health Organization-WHO. Unlike Option A and B, in Option B+,
a mother is automatically placed on ARV within 14 weeks of her pregnancy
once she tests HIV positive.

Previously, expectant mothers were only enrolled for ARV treatment after
determining their CD4 count or going through clinical staging. It is hoped
that once the program is rolled out in health facilities across the country
that have been implementing options A and B, it will scale up PMTCT and
reduce HIV/Aids prevalence amongst minors.

Dr. Joseph Mugabi a senior medical consultant  explains that Option B+ ARV
regiment gives HIV positive mothers an alternative to nurse their babies
with a reduced risk of Mother to Child Transmission.

A recent AIDS survey indicator shows that only half of the estimated
150,000 children infected with HIV in Uganda are receiving care, the next
half lack vital HIV/AIDS care and less are receiving Anti Retroviral
Treatment (ART). The survey also indicates that Uganda children currently
constitute 16% of new infections, while HIV prevalence in mothers is 7.5%
meaning that babies born to these mothers are exposed to HIV.

Mugabi appeals to all parties involved in the fight against HIV to work
together and stabilize the management of the epidemic particularly within
families.

Mugabi also suggests that to effectively eliminate Mother to Child HIV
transmission, there is need to improve reproductive health among women,
eliminate social and cultural practices that create stigma around HIV/AIDS
and adoption of practical family planning methods

BY VANANSIO KAKOGOSO

IN RUBANDA—–
Residents who access services from Rubanda district are accusing civil
servants of late coming.
The residents claim that most of the civil servants arrive at their
workplace between 9:30am and 11:30am.
Friday Muhumuza a resident of Bubaare Trading centre in Bubaare Sub
County says that he was overwhelmed on Friday last week when he went
at the district head quarters seeking for services and the responsible
officer arrived in office at around 10; 15am.
He says that the district authorities should take action against civil
servants who are habitual late comers to foster service delivery.
Paul Tumukunde a resident of Nyaruhanga parish Ikumba Sub County says
that he usually observes civil servants by passing his home going for
work very late without caring about time. He says that the late coming
has crippled service delivery.
One of the civil servants who spoke to www.mknewslink.com news website reporter, says that they
arrive at work late because they trek long distances from Kabale
Municipality going for work.
The Rubanda district Chairman Jogo Kenneth Biryabarema admits that the
district civil servants report late at work. He however attributes the
late coming to lack of electricity in administration block and long
distances the civil servants trek going for work.
He however says that they in next two weeks they will light the head
offices and there will no more excuses.

BY YOSAM G.

IN MASINDI—-

Police in Masindi district arrested three women in connection with the killing of a nine years old girl in Rwemigali village Miirya sub county Masindi district.

The trio whose names were withheldwere arrested yesterday evening by police and they are currently detained at Masindi police station.

BoscoBakashaba, the District Police Commander Masindi, noted that preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was buttered by her grand mam whom she was staying with adding that the deceased was buttered Tuesday night being assisted by the other two.

Bakashaba also explained that the deceased has not been staying with the mam noting that her mam stays in Arua district.

He also said that they have discovered that the grand mam to the deceased has been torturing the deceased on different occasions.

He warned the parents against leaving their children to the relatives saying that parents should always take care of their children adding that the culprits will be produced to court after investigations.

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