Gulu CAO says foreigners increasing HIV rate in the district

By Jimmy Komakech

The Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Gulu district has said the current HIV/AIDS rate is linked to presence of foreigners, especially refugees.

He termed it a “major factor”.

James Okumu said the great spread of HIV is as a result of the influx of migrants, numerous populations of hotels, lodges and bars in the town and the transfer and presence of different security forces in the district.

Deputy CAO says “most of the men in uniform are transferred without their women”.

He advised the general community in Gulu to embrace safe male circumcision as the best initiative to overcome this.

“Most of the health facilities in the district provide circumcision service, people should go and do it,” he encouraged.

Citing people like Moses and Jesus in the Bible who he said were all circumcised.

 HIV prevalence in Gulu district stands at 8.2 percent compared to the overall country’s percentage which is at 6 percent.