Men dodge HIV test, use wives to determine status

0
72
Torit Referral Hospital HIV AIDS manager reported that men were dodging HIV AIDS test during voluntary counseling and testing campaign ahead of the World AIDS Day.
 
Lasuba David said there was low response from men to HIV AIDS testing, Emmanuel Radio reported.
 
He said many men prefer determining their status through the test of their pregnant wives.
 
Mr Lasuba said men responded to counseling and testing to get drugs when their wives were tested HIV positive.
 
He said some pregnant mothers come with excuses that their husbands travelled or busy.
 
Mr Lasuba clarified that HIV AIDS voluntary counseling and testing was necessary for pregnant women to avoid mother to child transmission.
 
State HIV AIDS Director Augustine Okwahi said Nimule was selected to host the state World AIDS Day celebration due to its high prevalence rates.
 
He attributed the high prevalence at Nimule to the multicultural nature of the town, nearness to neighboring counties and its location as transit centre along international route.
 
Dr Okwahi said Kapoeta, Torit and Magwi towns are other areas with high HIV AIDS prevalence rates in the state.
 
State Health minister Margaret Leonardo Itto rated general knowledge of the people on HIV AIDS as low especially among women.