Uganda AIDS Commission drafts plan to streamline HIV/AIDS messages

May 22 2008

The Uganda AIDS Commission has drafted a strategy to streamline HIV/AIDS communication in the country, the New Vision reports. The plan seeks to unify various national HIV/AIDS awareness messages, UAC Director-General Kihumuro Apuuli said at a recent meeting for the Young, Empowered and Healthy initiative in Kampala, Uganda.

"Not all stakeholders in HIV/AIDS give the same message," he said. According to Apuuli, some people think that antiretroviral drugs "are a cure for HIV," some "think that circumcision prevents HIV, while others are opposed to condoms." He added, "We will analyze the type of messages delivered. These messages must be clear."

Apuuli also said that HIV/AIDS efforts have focused on young people in the country at the expense of older groups, causing a resurgence of HIV cases among older populations, the New Vision reports.

YEAH was launched in 2004 by UAC. The initiative designs and conducts behavior change campaigns for people ages 15 to 24 to help curb HIV, early pregnancy and school dropout rates (Baguma, New Vision, 5/22).