By KT Reporter
Judicial officers at the Iganga High Court Circuit have committed to participating in ending new HIV infections and ending stigmatisation.
The officers made the commitments during the Judiciary’s quarterly health awareness clinic, held on Thursday at the Iganga High Court circuit. The camp that was open to the public comprised free HIV testing, screening for other sexually transmitted diseases, and malaria, among others. It was held under the theme of “Ending AIDs by 2030: building a sustainable HIV response.”
There was also sensitisation on the prevention of the recurrence of non-communicable diseases like High blood pressure, diabetes, among others.
They were further taken through mental health management sessions, where a section of judicial officers and members of the general public were seen holding one-on-one sessions with trained counsellors.
The Senior Resident Judge Iganga High Court Circuit, Justice David Batema, says that previously the institution lacked a clear HIV policy, leading to stigmatisation and silent deaths. Batema says that stigma was largely through openly pointing fingers and openly backbiting suspected HIV victims, which largely affected any possibility of disclosure.
Batema says that there was also a challenge of some victims spreading more infections for undisclosed reasons, due to a lack of a clear HIV workplace policy to support their staff in overcoming underlying challenges at the time.
Batema says that with the HIV workplace policy in place, judicial officers can openly speak up without fear of being stigmatised by colleagues or slandered.
He notes that judicial officers have also received training about different ways in which HIV is spread and the different preventive measures.
The judicial officers from over nine districts under this court circuit were sensitised on the judiciary’s HIV workplace. They were encouraged to disclose their status to the institution’s undersigned committee for support.
Dorothy Lwanga, a member of the Judiciary’s HIV committee, says that they are championing this through largely zero tolerance to stigma. Lwanga says that their committee is composed of ethical staff, assigned with the responsibility of safeguarding the privacy of HIV clients.
Lwanga says that this is complemented by other incentives like medical funds, payoffs to catch up with treatment, among others.
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