The number of persons who are contracting HIV/AIDS has increased recently, according to data from the Mildmay Institute of Health Sciences.
Thbug chasers” go out on purpose to purposefully infect themselves with HIV, knowing full well that they will profit from assistance provided to others who test positive.
Speaking to reporters at the institute’s sixth graduation ceremony, Chancellor Prof. Sam Luboga stated that the primary reason for the present rise in new HIV infections is that individuals no longer view the illness as terminal.
“People no longer pay attention to one another.”
“They are aware of the risky behaviours and choose to pleasure themselves rather than risk contracting the disease,” he continued.
“There are individuals known as bug chasers who deliberately seek out HIV to benefit from the benefits that people living with the virus enjoy. This is a well-established fact that the media should have long since reported on.”
Minister Prof. Luboga made remarks that caused nearly instant backlash, claiming that HIV/AIDS was killing 46 Ugandans per day.
According to Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) chief of HIV prevention Dr. Daniel Byamukama, bugchasing of this kind used to occur a long time ago.
He continued by saying that at this time, people might receive assistance from the Aids Support Organization (Taso).
Nowadays, bugchasing “is speculation,” according to Dr. Byamukama.
“It is not something I can put my foot on because if they ask me for figures I do not have them,” the UAC representative continued.
The allegations of bugchasing follow the release of UAC’s 2023 report, which revealed that 52,000 new cases of HIV infection were reported in the previous year.
Amidst the estimated 1.4 million people in the nation infected with the virus, the research also highlights 17,000 deaths linked to the disease.
The Mildmay Institute of Health Sciences, established in 2018, awarded certificates, diplomas, and bachelor’s degrees to 604 graduates in various medical courses yesterday.
Health informatics, clinical dietetics, public health nutrition, clinical medicine and community health, and medical laboratory technologies were a few of them.
The board of directors chairman, Dr. Jeff Sebuyira Mukasa, stated that yesterday’s graduation marked the 25th anniversary of Mildmay’s establishment in Uganda as a specialized HIV/AIDS training and capacity development facility.
At least two million Ugandans were serviced by the institution in 2022 alone, and it has helped over 120,000 individuals living with HIV enjoy fulfilling lives.
Mildmay Uganda has been able to improve healthcare services and extend life expectancy for thousands of Ugandans since 1998 by using audacious initiatives.
“Our goal is to enable the communities we work with to take responsibility for their health and well-being,” he stated.
The principal of the Institute, Edith Akankwasa, responded that they have not given up on providing HIV/Aids services when asked why they switched from offering HIV/Aids services to training students, why Ugandans are purposefully entering infected areas to contract the virus, and how many new HIV infections were occurring.
She said, “The institute offers newly infected people comprehensive counselling, treatment, and support.”
“We are aware that there is a partner and a family someplace when we receive a good response from you.
She said, “We provide socioeconomic support, we follow up with the family and not just the individual. We follow you up in the community, enrol you in treatment, and make sure you are adhering.”
The principal further disclosed that the institute was established to supplement existing Lweza campus institutions in teaching, research, and therapy.
The National Forum Personsons Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda Networks in Uganda (Nafopanu) board chair, Dr. Stephen Watiti, stated in response to a message that he has seen most persons who appear to be battling with several partners who want to engage in adult events.
According to him, a few of the males insist on going to the blood testing together to find out if the ladies are HIV-positive.
The females often will not let it through since, should the test results be negative, it will enhance the likelihood of sleeping with the guys, even though they do not want to.
According to Dr. Watiti, there are additional situations in which HIV-positive individuals seek out other HIV-positive individuals to be their friends.
Although this is acceptable, there are other situations where individuals are mentally ill and in poverty.
Certain individuals, particularly those in which one partner has a high viral load, are motivated added, want to, and influence one another to engage in adult activity.
