HIV/AIDS intervention project launched in Kabale

Kabale District Local Government in partnership with Live Medical Services, a not-for-profit non-government organization advocating for HIV/AIDS Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights response have today launched a two-year Safe Healthy Empowered and protected Vulnerable Populations project.

The two-year project provides comprehensive and differentiated high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support integrated with Gender Based Violence and mental health services to cover 218,000 vulnerable clients in Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso and beyond with love and dignity.

Addressing district leadership today in the chief administrative officer’s board room during the inception meeting, the monitoring and Evaluation manager David Mpagi said that the project will include ensuring that 30,000 vulnerable persons access HIV self-testing kits for early diagnosis and linkage to treatment, initiating 2000 vulnerable persons on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), increase access to mental health services, trauma counselling and appropriate support for gender-based violence survivors among other interventions.

He added the project will be undertaken in Kamuganguzi health centre IIIs and Kamukiira Health Center IV in Kabale municipality where increased numbers of HIV/AIDS clients are expected.

The Kabale District Health Educator Alfred Besigensi said that the project will among other interventions tackle HIV/AIDS information dissemination to people in communities.

Besigensi revealed that 193 out of the tested 15941 people were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS virus between January and March of this financial year. 16094 were initiated on drugs and 9318 people are living with HIV/AIDS in the district.

The Kabale District Principal Assistant Secretary Gordon Manzi said that there is a need by the implementing partner to enforce what is contained in the memorandum of Understanding in order to ensure effectiveness in the project execution.