Health workers to use drama advocacy to dispel community HIV Stigma

By Geofrey Achora Jr

The authority at Pakwach health iv are concerned over the low adherence to ARV drugs due to increasing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS in communities and now devising usage of drama to stem the vice.

With 6,531 persons living with the virus and  302 new infections, Geofrey Oromchan Wuna the Pakwach district HIV focal persons said the surge is likely to double as those already on drugs are discriminated against and more fearing to disclose their status due to persistent stigma subjected to by community

“it’s a challenge that is greatly affected our enrolment as those already on the drugs are shunning while others are resorting to taking theirs in fear especially the newly married without declaring their status” he said.

According to the district HIV Status report for 2022 between June and July Alwi health and panyigoro health center iii registered drastic decline of positive patients on retained ART attributing mainly to stigma.

Wuna emphasized the need for confidentiality in disclosure of HIV Results and pre-calling of clients but he maintains that voluntarily disclosure among newly married partner is still a challenge and they are embarking on rural drama in local languages at village levels to instil hope and encourage the community freely support those with the scourge.

The district is however also challenged in the tackle of the disease by mobile community with most of the new clients giving wrong contacts and details of locations limiting follow ups. 

However, Oloya Geofrey the Pakwach district chairperson people living with HIV is optimistic that cases will scaled down through success story and testimony from the drama and play.

He stressed that despite the impediment, they registered successful strategies for retentions such as issuing of multi month refill, home-based couselling community drug delivery during home visits and routine health education. 

He is concern by the deliberate transmission of the disease especially among adolescent youths who have failed to accept their status

“Im appealing to the active sexually youths to come out and declare their status than deliberately infecting others. By accepting and knowing your stand helping you will be easy for this is not the end of life” Oloya noted.

These concerns are raised and intervention are reached at time the Uganda Aids Commission(UAC) under the office of the president is  on the follow up of the implementation of the National policy guidelines on ending HIV Stigma and discrimination by 2030.