Summary:
- According to district statistics, Rubanda currently has 3,133 registered HIV/AIDS cases, with 1,982 females and 1,206 males affected.
RUBANDA: The Rubanda District LC5 Chairman, Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba, has instructed the District Health Officer to reinstate condom dispensers in designated public areas to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in the district.
Speaking during the belated World AIDS Day commemoration held at Rubanda Town Council headquarters on Friday, Kasyaba highlighted the importance of condom dispensers, recalling their positive impact when they were previously available in the district. He expressed concern that the absence of these services might be contributing to the increasing HIV/AIDS cases among residents.
According to district statistics, Rubanda currently has 3,133 registered HIV/AIDS cases, with 1,982 females and 1,206 males affected. The District Health Officer, Dr. Abdon Birungi, stated that the district’s HIV prevalence rate stands at 2.2%.
Breaking down the cases by area, Rubanda Town Council leads with 121 cases, followed by Muko Sub-County with 81 cases, Hamurwa Town Council with 40 cases, Nyamweru Sub-County with 16 cases, and both Hamuhambo and Kashaasha Town Councils with three cases each. Ruhiija Sub-County has five registered cases.
Kasyaba urged Dr. Birungi and his team to intensify sensitization efforts, particularly targeting men, and to prioritize the reinstallation of condom dispensers as a proactive measure to combat the virus’s spread.
CUE IN KASYABA……ON CONDOM DISPENSERS……RR/ENG//
In response, Dr. Birungi acknowledged the issue, explaining that the dispensers had been removed from public spaces due to exposure to direct sunlight. He assured attendees that steps would be taken to reinstall the dispensers to provide residents with easier access to condoms.
CUE IN DR. BIRUNGI…….ON THE MATTER…….RR/ENG//
