By Our Reporter
Reach A Hand Uganda, a youth-led non-profit organization, has launched a week-long campaign to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in commemoration of World AIDS Day.
Dubbed “I Know Kati”, the campaign is held annually and will this year run under the theme “Ending the HIV epidemic by Tearing down inequalities” with an aim to ensure that HIV-related health information and services reach the poor and marginalized.
“Young people from all walks of life require safety and HIV protection, as well as information and services tailored to their specific needs in order to effectively avoid new infections and live longer, happier lives,” James Tumusiime, Country Director, Reach A Hand Uganda told media at the launch.
According to a 2021 report by Uganda AIDS Commission, Uganda currently has a total of 1.4 million people living with HIV of which 480,000 are men, 820,000 are females and 98,000 are children aged 0-14.
The report further indicated that there were 38,000 new infections in the year 2020, with adolescent girls and young women accounting for over 29% of all the new HIV infections.
“It goes without saying that campaigns like this one have a huge influence since they promote awareness about HIV/AIDS and the subsequent behavioral changes that are required, resulting in a cascade of transformed lives and generations. We bridge the information gap through the iKnow campaign by conducting community sensitization activities and partnering with health service providers to bring SRHR services like HIV Testing and Counseling closer to them,” James Tumusiime added.
This year’s campaign is inspired by the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy (2021-2026), which emphasizes the need to minimize inequities in order to end the HIV pandemic by 2030. The campaign will feature several activities including Free HIV/AIDs testing and counseling, UTI screening and treatment, mental health sessions and dialogues among others in several districts across the country.
