IDOP Message Kasese

While there is considerable effort by Government and other non-state development actors to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, there are no explicit attempts made to target Older Persons. It is for example falsely assumed that Older Persons are sexually inactive and yet available studies by Uganda Reach the Aged Association (URAA) indicate the contrary. To demonstrate this, one of the studies revealed that 64% of the Older Persons are sexually active, of which 91% never used condoms during sexual intercourse.

Besides, research evidence also suggests that many of the Older Persons are not aware of preventive strategies, which ultimately leaves them exposed to contracting HIV and AIDS. For example: many Older Persons take care of People living with HIV and AIDS such as own children and grandchildren and can contract the disease from direct contact with their blood. Furthermore, Older Persons being in menopause are liable to experience thinning of the virginal wall which potentially causes injury during sexual intercourse and thus increasing risks of contracting HIV and AIDS.

Key Note: Older Persons are not specifically targeted in the Uganda AIDS Indicator Survey, UNGASS Report, Uganda Demographic Health Survey, National HIV and AIDS Policy, and the National Prevention Strategy. It is worth noting that older persons are not recognized as a group at risk of HIV infection in the Uganda AIDS Indicator Survey. Long queues coupled with the Young counselors placed at the HCT Centres are a demotivating factor for Older Persons to access HIV related services.

Therefore as Older Persons:

·        We urge Ministry of Health to provide age appropriate, quality and comprehensive information and education on HIV&AIDS transmission, prevention, testing, care and treatment services;

·        We urge Ministry of Health to include older persons on the peer education, Home Based Care and Counseling Training programmes at community level;

·        We urge Ministry of Health to introduce special clinic days for Older Persons to interact with counselors for testing;

·        We urge Ministry of Health to introduce community based HIV&AIDS outreach services to engage Older Persons;

·        We urge Ministry of Health to introduce a special desk and consideration for Older Persons at HIV Counseling and Testing Centers;

·        We urge MOH to introduce age related specific ARVs as is the case for children;

·        We urge Ministry of Health to extend the age bracket from 49 – 60+ in the UAIS, UDHS and other related HIV and AIDS strategic documents during reviews;

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY