Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - August 29, 2007
John Omoding
Hundreds of residents in long queues struggled to be tested during the exercise carried out by the Population Services International (PSI) Uganda at the launch of the Basic Care Packages and Living Positively Everyday for Life campaign at Kaberamaido Township Primary School.
The crowd became uncontrollable as they ran in different directions in haste to get into the queue after it was announced that those willing to take free HIV/Aids tests should report to a centre behind one of the classrooms.
Susan Aketch, 20, said: "I am very anxious to know my status because I often get malaria and cough." Hellen Adeyo, 52, said she wanted to be tested because she had been hearing radio announcements that it was good to go for HIV/Aids test and know one's sero-status.
William Alibu, 36, tells anyone who cares to know his status. "I am HIV+ and I am taking ARVs. Before I started using them, I was very weak but I have regained my strength. Can you tell that I am HIV+? I have come to know my CD4 count."
The locals braved the scorching sun up to 5:00pm when the testing team finished the exercise.
A laboratory technician from the Aids Information Centre, Moses Adaku, said the centre had only carried testing materials for 50 people.
Frank James Epwonu, a laboratory technician, with Kaberamaido Health Centre Four, said his team tested 185 people, six of them tested positive, representing a prevalence of about 4%.
The Basic and Palliative Care Coordinator at PSI, Dennis Okena, said the company would give 200,000 people countrywide free HIV Basic Care kits within five years.
PSI has distributed over 112,000 basic care kits and trained about 1,500 health service providers and peer educators on HIV basic care.
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