HIV/AIDS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED ALONG KASHENY- MITOOMA ROAD

By Deus Turuhukire

In Mitooma——

Over 250 people of Kashenyi Trading Centre Mitooma District have received free medication from a medical camp by ChongQuing International Construction Corporation (CICO) in pattern ship with Reproductive Healthy Uganda (RHU).

CICO is contracted to tarmac Kashenyi-Mitooma road and the construction works will last for three years.

Services offered included; breast and cervical cancer screening, HIV testing, high blood pressure and family planning services.

Dr Chris Matene District Healthy Officer (DHO) Mitooma said that 8% women and 4% men in Uganda are affected with HIV/AIDS.

He further revealed that 35% of prostitutes, 17% of drug users and Bar attendants in Uganda are HIV positive.

According Dr Matene in 2010 HIV/AIDs prevalence was on high rate in Northern Uganda but currently research indicates that the scourge has changed the direction to Southwestern Uganda, affecting  young girls ranging from 15 to 19 ,40 to 45women and men 40 to 50 age group  respectively .

A health worker attending to patients at Katenga.

He advised young girls and women to avoid unnecessary sexual relationship with workers from CICO during the construction of Kashenyi-Mitooma road if they are to avoid contracting the HIV/AIDS.

He also appealed to the public to go for Hepatitis B screening which is a life threatening disease in Uganda.

Mrs Scovia  Kyogabire a resident of Rushoozi 11 Bitooma Parish Katenga  Subcounty who gets free medication  on HIV/AIDs appreciate the work done within the community by CICO pattern ship with RHU.

Nazario Byaruhanga; the public relations officer CICO said that they are working hand in hand with RHU to educate people living along the Mitooma – Katenga road how they can control HIV/AIDs prevalence and road accidents as the way of giving back services to the people.

Dr Henry Waswa who was the heading the medication camp at Katenga trading centre said that HIV positive females out-numbered males during the exercise.

Source:www.mknewslink.com a western Uganda news website.

Email:wmuhwezi75@gmail.com

Tel:+256702680106

Patients turned up for free medical services at Katenga