HIV/AIDS FIGHT: Zombo deploys trained peer educators to help curb virus spread

Zombo, (UG): Zombo District Forum for People Living with HIV/AIDS has trained and deployed 5 outstanding Young persons living with Human Immune Virus (HIV) to execute a peer-to-peer approach of counselling on periodic blood testing, abstinence, PREP and ARV  therapeutics in some selected health facilities across the district, DailyExpress understands.

The timely creative initiative of the forum charged with the mandate to create awareness, advocate for the welfare of HIV victims and curb the spread of the virus in the district is aimed at down surging the jet light rocketing cases of infections that by September 2023 stood at 4,094 with many unregistered and others living in denial.

Speaking to DailyExpress in an interview on Tuesday, the chairperson of the forum, Mr. Collins Canudwoga earnestly disclosed to this publication the obligations of the trained HIV-positive peer educators saying in verbatim; “the purpose of training them is to talk to fellow young positives, counsel them on positive living and assure them of work productivity despite infection,” Collins said in an interview.

This publication further learnt that the trained peers have been deployed in areas dubbed as hot spots for the spread of the virus such as Paidha, Nyapea, Warr and Zeu health centres respectively. The peer educators and the night testing clinics are believed to be a magical bullet to counter the paranoia of the youth to access HIV AIDS-related services.

Notwithstanding the preventive and therapeutic measures, sexual Reproductive Health Rights activists argue that sex education to children by parents is the meticulous remedy to achieve positive living among victims and combat prevalence starting from the smallest units of families.

In a candid view shared on social media handle, Mr.Cosmas Omirambe, a sexual reproductive health rights advocate discredited lamentations of parents,” …. when the child gets infected you start blaming the child now bear the consequences but at that tender age the child will bring the burden to you the parent,” Omirambe reported on Zombo Mwa Forum.

Zombo district  HIV/AIDS prevalence stands at 2 per cent out of the 7 per cent of the West Nile sub-region and it’s largely attributed to gross immorality, sharing of sharp objects and religious beliefs that HIV can be cured.