and other related matters.The com- mittee, comprised of 20 members, was set up to scrutinize HIV/AIDS policies, monitor and evaluate gov- ernment activities and bodies aimed at combating the disease. It also examines, makes recommendations on relevant bills and other matters relating to HIV/AIDS and carries out field visits and public hearings on particular issues.
The committee which consists of
Members of political parties repre- sented in Parliament is drafting a comprehensive HIV/AIDS law. Parliament has also amended several laws including the penal code sec- tions to penalize defilers who infect others with HIV/AIDS. It has also developed a parliamentary handbook on HIV/AIDS to enable legislators in the struggle to fight the disease. Despite their role and success in the fight against AIDS, MPs need to be empowered to make informed policies to decide what is allocated to priority areas.They should also analyze the budget from an HIV/AIDS perspec- tive, after listening to the needs of their constituents and make appropriate adjustments. MPs need to ensure that monitoring mechanisms are in place to guarantee that HIV/AIDS resources reach intended targets without party political discrimination.
Legislations and resources are needed to protect the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and other vulnerable children. In 1995, Uganda announced that
it had observed what appeared to be declining trends in HIV prevalence.A participatory study in using antiretro- viral drugs to prevent mother-to- child transmission of HIV, the preva- lence among pregnant women dropped significantly to 9.7 per cent and 5 per cent for the national preva- lence.With help from the World Bank of $47.5m for five years, the antiretroviral treatment was reaching over 41 per cent of the needy people. However, according to Mr Kihumuro Apuuli, director of the Uganda AIDS Commission, the prevalence has stag- nated at 6.4 per cent due to behav- ioural change.
The journey ahead Despite the achievements, the disease is still a big challenge to the Ugandan government. One wonders why regardless of the huge funds injected in the fight, the results are yet to be seen. Scholars attribute this to the lack of adequate human resources and poor skills.The few available are constantly being drained to developed countries hence compounding the problem.
Hon.Alex Bakunda (right) talking to another set of patients at the HIV/AIDS clinic in the Mbarara Hospital.
In some inaccessible rural areas,
condoms are not as easily accessed as in urban areas. Even where they are available, many people do not use them claiming that they limit sexual enjoyment. The price of condoms is still high
that many cannot afford “the luxury” of purchasing them. In Uganda, a packet of condom costs about $1. There is therefore need for the gov- ernment to provide free condoms to enable those that are willing to use them do so. Unfortunately, in Uganda many
users do not feel free to ask for con- doms in clinics and hospitals where they are freely provided.As a result, condoms expire, with some of low quality. Some believe that a condom could easily burst, rendering the whole exercise fatal to the user. Some religious groups have not come to terms with the fact that although HIV in Uganda is spread mainly through sexual intercourse, they still regard the victims as being irreligious and paying the price for their actions.This does not mean however that other religious groups do not help out. In fact the church has been at the forefront of the fight. Although, stigmatization is slowly dying out, there is still a long way to go.