Fort Portal City has started a school-based campaign on HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy targeting secondary school students amid concerns over the high HIV prevalence and teenage pregnancies among young people.
The campaign, which started on Thursday, is being conducted by the City Health Office and other city officials through visits to secondary schools across the city.
On the first day, the team visited Kitumba Secondary School, Kamengo Secondary School and Kahinju Secondary School, where students were sensitized about HIV prevention, testing, teenage pregnancy and the dangers of risky sexual behavior.
Phillips Obal, the Assistant City Health Officer, said the campaign was prompted by the need to confront the HIV situation in Fort Portal City, where he revealed that prevalence has risen from 14.1 % to 16.7%, exceeding the national prevalence, which stands at 5.9%.
Obal said the city is particularly concerned about young people and is encouraging students to know their HIV status as part of efforts to prevent new infections. He said although new HIV infections are relatively declining, the high prevalence requires deliberate efforts to ensure that people know their status and those who test positive are enrolled on treatment early.
Obal urged parents, teachers, students and communities to take responsibility for preventing HIV and teenage pregnancy, saying the challenges cannot be left to the health sector alone.
The campaign is also addressing teenage pregnancy, which city officials say remains a major concern among school-going girls.
Obal said Fort Portal City’s teenage pregnancy rate stands at about 15%, although this is lower than the national rate of 25%.
He said teenage pregnancy and HIV are being addressed together because young people exposed to circumstances that increase their risk of early pregnancy may also face increased vulnerability to HIV infection.
Steven Ainganiza, the Fort Portal City Information Officer, said the campaign was deliberately taken to secondary schools because young people are among those most affected by HIV.
Ainganiza said the city is using the school visits to provide students with information on HIV prevention and protection while encouraging them to make responsible decisions.
He said some young girls are lured into relationships with older men who provide them with money or other forms of support, increasing their vulnerability to HIV and teenage pregnancy.
Ainganiza said teenage pregnancy also forces many girls to drop out of school, limiting their chances of completing their education and achieving their future goals. Siraj Senyonjo, the headteacher of Kamengo Secondary School, said the school has previously experienced challenges associated with teenage pregnancy and vulnerable students.
Senyonjo attributed some of the pregnancies to inadequate parental support and difficult socio-economic conditions at home. He said some students had been forced to combine schooling with work, including working in hotels and bars, leaving them vulnerable.
He added that some people, including boda boda riders, taxi drivers and other men, use this chance to exploit the young girls with money and small gifts to have sexual relationships with them.
Geofrey Atugonza, a student at Kamengo Secondary School, said the campaign has helped them understand the risks of HIV and teenage pregnancy, particularly how these challenges can affect their education and future. He added that the sensitization had also encouraged learners to know their HIV status, protect themselves and make responsible decisions-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
