Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - September 8, 2008
Ali Mambule
"Enough has been done with awareness and I believe that every Ugandan knows what AIDS is, the ways through which it is acquired and how one can prevent it," Sejjoba said.
He was on Saturday officiating at the 11th Annual General Meeting for The Aids Support Organisation (TASO) in Masaka.
He said changing people's behaviour was the solution to the spread of the disease.
Sejjoba added that children also knew the causes of AIDS and what they needed was education in good morals.
He advised parents to talk to their children, especially girls, about the importance of maintaining their virginity and the boys to restrain from sexual activities before marriage.
"If you feel you can not talk to your children about the disease, sneak into their rooms and drop condoms there or get ready to look after them after getting the virus," Sejjoba said.
He commended the children who came out and announced their AIDS status, saying that was one of the ways through which the disease would be fought.
Sejjoba, however, added that TASO clients also fell in love but urged them never to have sex without a condom.
The organisation's regional manager, Betty Nabirye, said the stigma of infected students was high in schools.
She said this was not only from fellow students but also from teachers and some head teachers.
"It has led to many infected children failing to take their drugs regularly for fear of being discovered," Nabirye said.
Whenever non-government organisations and the Government talked about the youth, she said, they only referred to those in schools, yet there were many who were out of school and needed to be incorporated in the fight against the disease.
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