HIV/AIDS activists marched on the streets of the Ugandan capital Kampala on Friday in a public awareness campaign aimed at reducing new HIV infections.
The activists joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, which serves as a community mobilization campaign to raise social consciousness about HIV and AIDS.
The event was marked under the theme, “Empowering young people to champion the end of new HIV infections.”
Abdul Nadduli, Minister without portfolio, said that Uganda was focusing on achieving the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in 2016 set 90-90-90 targets. The first 90 aims at having 90 per cent of people living with HIV knowing their status by 2020.
The second 90 aims at having 90 percent of people, who test positive to be enrolled in care and treatment. The third 90 aims at ensuring that all those on treatment achieve viral load suppression.
Nelson Musooba, Director-General of Uganda AIDS Commission said although the country has made efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS, the burden still remains high
Government figures show that 1.3 million Ugandans are living with HIV, of which, 1.1 million have been enrolled on treatment.
