The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Daina Atwine breaks into tears due to the overwhelming figures for teenage pregnancies in the country and said that something special needs to be done to avert the vice.
The United Nations Population Fund reported that 32,000 teenagers got pregnant every month in Uganda between 2020-2021 during the covid-19 era.
Dr. Atwine wept as she implored stakeholders to get out of their comfort zones and go on the ground to tackle the issue of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted rampant infections.
While presiding over at the National Launch of Global Alliance to End Aids in children by 2030 at Serena Hotel Kampala, Dr. Atwine challenged the stakeholders to be filed workers as opposed to board room meeting and workshop with she said will not help much to end Aids new infections by 20230 if teenagers are not physically engaged.
“ Designing guidelines and plans is good but not enough. We must get out of our comfort zones and go where these young people are, talk and listen to them and address their real challenges short of that the future of the country is doomed is we can’t find solutions to challenges such people face.’’ Dr. Atwine said.
She further said,“ I’m so emotional because I have three adolescent girls. When I look at those children, I say I’m their mother.’’
Uganda Aids Commission report of 2022 indicates that out of a total of 52,000 new HIV infections, 19,000 were among young people aged 15-24 , young women contributing 15,000 of the cases. Similarly, of the 8,600 new HIV infections in adolescents, 8,000 were girls.
However the country made significant positive strides towards the reduction of mother-to-child transmission in 2022 were a total of 5,900 new cases were reported compared to 2010 were 20,000 cases were registered.
The permanent secretary warned stakeholder to relax, that this 5,600 is not a small number even the 5% can turn to 70% due to the competing factors such as Social, culture and religion. She said that young girls should be given a priority.
The national coordinator of HIV Care and Treatment at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Cordelia Katureebe said that the initiative to end new Aids infections in children by 2030 will hinge on strategies that have been put in place.
She also said the retention in care of pregnant and a breastfeeding woman for reducing mother-to child infection is at 72% and that the Anti-retroviral coverage for children aged between 0-14 is at 95% while the suppression is currently standing at 78%. This indicates that there is still a significant number that is nor accessing care and don’t know their HIV status.
Meanwhile to draw plans for combating the alarming teenage pregnancies and school dropouts which is the high cause of the former, Dr. Atwine also informed the gathering that she has organized a zoom meeting to deliberate on issue of teenage pregnancy, School dropout, HIV and Wash and is slated to take place this Monday.
The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Daina Atwine breaks into tears due to the overwhelming figures for teenage pregnancies in the country and said that something special needs to be done to avert the vice.
The United Nations Population Fund reported that 32,000 teenagers got pregnant every month in Uganda between 2020-2021 during the covid-19 era.
Dr. Atwine wept as she implored stakeholders to get out of their comfort zones and go on the ground to tackle the issue of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted rampant infections.
While presiding over at the National Launch of Global Alliance to End Aids in children by 2030 at Serena Hotel Kampala, Dr. Atwine challenged the stakeholders to be filed workers as opposed to board room meeting and workshop with she said will not help much to end Aids new infections by 20230 if teenagers are not physically engaged.
“ Designing guidelines and plans is good but not enough. We must get out of our comfort zones and go where these young people are, talk and listen to them and address their real challenges short of that the future of the country is doomed is we can’t find solutions to challenges such people face.’’ Dr. Atwine said.
She further said,“ I’m so emotional because I have three adolescent girls. When I look at those children, I say I’m their mother.’’
Uganda Aids Commission report of 2022 indicates that out of a total of 52,000 new HIV infections, 19,000 were among young people aged 15-24 , young women contributing 15,000 of the cases. Similarly, of the 8,600 new HIV infections in adolescents, 8,000 were girls.
However the country made significant positive strides towards the reduction of mother-to-child transmission in 2022 were a total of 5,900 new cases were reported compared to 2010 were 20,000 cases were registered.
The permanent secretary warned stakeholder to relax, that this 5,600 is not a small number even the 5% can turn to 70% due to the competing factors such as Social, culture and religion. She said that young girls should be given a priority.
The national coordinator of HIV Care and Treatment at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Cordelia Katureebe said that the initiative to end new Aids infections in children by 2030 will hinge on strategies that have been put in place.
She also said the retention in care of pregnant and a breastfeeding woman for reducing mother-to child infection is at 72% and that the Anti-retroviral coverage for children aged between 0-14 is at 95% while the suppression is currently standing at 78%. This indicates that there is still a significant number that is nor accessing care and don’t know their HIV status.
Meanwhile to draw plans for combating the alarming teenage pregnancies and school dropouts which is the high cause of the former, Dr. Atwine also informed the gathering that she has organized a zoom meeting to deliberate on issue of teenage pregnancy, School dropout, HIV and Wash and is slated to take place this Monday.
By George Bukenya