MOH Urges Newly Diagnosed HIV Patients to Seek Early Treatment as Symposium Calls for Stronger Prevention.

The Ministry of Health has encouraged people newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS to urgently seek health facilities for counselling and treatment in order to live longer, healthier lives.

 

Buikwe District Health Officer, Dr. Allan Katamba Ssemakula, made the call during the Adolescent and Young People Living with HIV Symposium 2026 (A/YPLHIV) held at Mountain Inn Bujjowali in Njeru under the theme “Safe Minds, Strong Voices.”

 

According to Dr. Ssemakula, some people resort to hiding after testing positive, while others deliberately decide to infect others, believing their lives have ended. He said early treatment can help them survive longer and fight off opportunistic infections.

 

Dr. Ssemakula added that the Ministry of Health has put in place several strategies to eliminate and reduce infections, including working with the AIDS Control Program to implement policies aimed at reducing HIV transmission among children and intensifying community sensitization.

 

He urged all stakeholders, including health workers, to target and prioritize adolescents to protect them from contracting the virus.

 

Meanwhile, government has been urged to increase investment in HIV/AIDS prevention to curb new infections.

 

The call was made by Dr. Anthony Ruhangayebare, head of St. Francis Health Care Services, an organisation supporting young people living with HIV/AIDS, who was also speaking at the same symposium.

 

Dr. Ruhangayebare said caring for people living with HIV/AIDS remains very challenging because they require intensive care and lifelong support, yet many new infections are preventable.

 

“Currently, our organisation is taking care of about 400 young people living with HIV/AIDS,” Dr. Ruhangayebare said.

 

He stressed that with more support for prevention programs such as community sensitization, early testing, access to preventive services, and targeted interventions for adolescents and young people the country can significantly reduce new infections.

 

Dr. Ruhangayebare called for concerted efforts from government, health partners, and communities to prioritize prevention, noting that it is more cost-effective and critical to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat.