'Remain faithful to keep HIV out of bedrooms'

KAMPALA - Couples have been advised to remain faithful to each other in order to be free from HIV infection.

Speaking at the 16th Bride and Groom Expo under the theme; Locking HIV out of the bedroom", the board chair at the Uganda AIDS Commission Canon Dr. Ruth Senyonyi said that lately marriages have been invaded by polygamy and infidelity where men have girlfriends often described as side substitutes, baby mamas and boyfriends described as baby daddies.

Other practices include: Flings with workmates and church members among others.
Senyonyi also faulted people who are still practicing wife inheritance as well as commercial sex workers.

These unprotected sexual activities have resulted in high number of married people getting infected, she said. 

“We want couples to enjoy sex without the anxiety of HIV. You should therefore lock the door before HIV enters, and get into an HIV-free bedroom,” Dr. Senyonyi noted.
Data reveals that the number of married men and women who are infected with HIV is worrying.

HIV prevalence among married women in Uganda stands at 6.6% compared to their male married counterparts at 5.3%, against the national figure of 5.1%, according to UPHIA 2021 report.

The report also indicates that HIV prevalence among divorced men stands at 10% and among divorced women at 15% (UPHIA 2021).

“We want couples to enjoy sex without the anxiety of HIV. You should therefore lock the door before HIV enters, and get into an HIV-free bedroom,” Dr. Senyonyi noted.

How to lock HIV out of the bedroom

Dr. Senyonyi advised couples and the public to be faithful to their spouses or partners. She also urged couples to always test for HIV before getting married or engaging in sexual activity.

In the event that one partner is infected with HIV,  (discordancy), Hilary Bainemigisha, commonly known as Dr. Love, said using a condom comes in handy to protect the negative partner.  Bainemigisha emphasised the need to always check the expiry date before using condoms.  In addition, the negative partner should always check for HIV.

When both partners are HIV positive, she recommended using condoms to protect one another from re-infection.  

Additionally, the positive partner should get started on antiretroviral drugs and be loyal/ adhere to suppress the virus, such treatment is available in health facilities.

“When ARVs are taken for life, the virus is suppressed completely, and the chances of infecting others are thin,” Dr. Senyonyo noted.

She also advised parents and guardians to test or screen children under their care.

HIV burden

Uganda has made significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and is committed to ending HIV as a public health concern by 2030.

HIV prevalence among the adult population (15-49 years) stands at 5.1%.

The prevalence is still higher among women (15 to 49 years) at 6.6% compared to the men in the same age bracket at 3.6%, according to the annual Joint AIDS Review Report 2023/2024.

About 2,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses by June 2024 in Uganda, which was a slight decline from 2,100 deaths in 2023. The majority were men (8,700) and the rest were women (8,200) and children (3,200).

This is against the 2025 target of 10,800.

An estimated 1,492,410 people were living with HIV as of December 2023, and of those, there are more women than men living with HIV.