Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - August 25, 2009
Charles Kakamwa and Esther Mukyala
Officiating at the 13th annual general meeting of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) in Jinja, Menyha noted with concern that about 80% of Ugandans had never tested for the disease.
"One of the greatest challenges AIDS organisations are facing is how to popularise the need to test for the disease," said Menyha who represented trade state minister Gagawala Wambuzi
He added that some of the factors leading to the increased spread of HIV/AIDS were cross-generational sex, low percentage of circumcised men, unprotected sex and transactional sex practiced mostly by prostitutes.
Menyha noted that the high rate of alcohol consumption and drug abuse in communities had led to irresponsible behaviour and increased spread of sexually transmitted infections.
"We need to come up with solutions to the problem of drug abusers," he said. He advised people with HIV/AIDS to live positively, practice proper feeding and avoid alcoholic substances.
"Being HIV-positive does not mean the end of your life. You can study, work and aspire to become anything including Member of Parliament or even president of the country," he advised.
The TASO centre manager, Sarah Khanakwa, said the centre was overwhelmed by the big number of clients, with about 200 cases registered monthly and over 2,000 annually.
Khanakwa said a research was being done on discordant couples, whom she said were on the increase in the region.
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