UPC on Omicron variant and “life threatening HIV/AIDs”

UPC spokesperson, Arach Oyat Sharon told the media that as a country, we have many disease outbreaks including Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the entire world…

Kampala—1, December 2021: Uganda People Congress (UPC) party has asked youth to live healthy lifestyles, emphasizing that stigma against people who are living with HIV/AIDs must stop.

In its press statement to TND News, titled “Disease prevalence in Uganda”, UPC says in 1982, the first cases of “slim disease” in Uganda were identified in Rakai district.

This disease, Congress says was not recognized as AIDS until 1985. “AIDS is now a serious public health problem for Ugandans. The country has about 1.5 million Ugandans living with HIV infection.”

As we celebrate the world AIDs day under the theme, “End inequality, End Aids, End pandemics”, UPC would like to appreciate Ugandans for being vigilant and living healthy lifestyles, where we have embraced the use of condoms, frequent testing for HIV/AIDS and popularizing the existence of this disease citing the dangers to human life, among others.

These practices, the Kampala road based opposition political party revealed may “seem minor but have contributed to a reduction in the spread of the HIV virus in the country.”

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The party says this year’s theme “positions clearly the adolescents and young people to step up efforts in the fight to end stigma and the spread of the viruses.”

UPC spokesperson, Arach Oyat Sharon told the media that as a country, we have many disease outbreaks including Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the entire world and almost crippled medical facilities due to increased numbers of infections and transmission and high demand of innovations and technology.

“The medical facilities and supplies at times are erratic as well as socio-economic conditions that are hard and discourage recommended feeding,” she added.

“…. we urge Ugandans to continue being vigilant, consider using safe methods and live healthy lives as well as act as protectors of one another and teach ourselves that HIV/AIDs is still life threatening.”

“Let us therefore live healthy lifestyles especially the youth. UPC would like to reemphasize that the stigma against people who are living with HIV/AIDs must stop! Our efforts should be on energizing and encouraging our brothers to take their drugs and treatment in time, as one can live a healthy HIV life.”

She noted that the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic created a lot of pressure on the medical system and with the lockdowns, access to medical services was hard and the resources were equally reduced.

On Omicron variant

There have been also many reports about the strain of a new variant of coronavirus which has been identified in Botswana and South Africa among other areas. The Omicron variant according to the World Health Organization possesses high risks of reinfection, as not much is known about the severity of the effects of this variant.

We therefore urge the people of Uganda who are still in the battlefield in the fight against this pandemic with partial lifting of the lockdown to not be relactant on observing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while bearing in mind about the state of our medical facilities. So please let us take the necessary steps to prevent being infected by the virus as the country moves towards full reopening of the economy.