The Vice President of Uganda, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has said that condom vending machines should be installed in public toilets so that sexually active, but shy young people can access them easily. “I have travelled in different parts of Europe and in most of their loos (sic) there are condom-vending machines. I think we should do the same as one way of fully enforcing the ABC strategy against HIV/AIDS,” Bukenya appealed.

Bukenya, who was opening the 5th Annual National Conference on HIV/AIDS at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday, said that young people fear being seen buying condoms. The 3-day conference, under the theme “Evidence- driven action for greater success,” is organised by Uganda AIDS Commission and other NGOs. It has attracted over 1,00 participants, who include HIV/AIDS researchers, policy makers and activists.

Prof. Bukenya noted that the absence of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services in rural areas of Uganda is the reason for the high HIV prevalence rates there. “The prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS is high in rural areas partly because the people there cannot access VCT services which are largely concentrated in Kampala. He said that increasing access to VCT services would enable people in rural areas know their sero-status. He also asked scientists and HIV/AIDS researchers to simplify their findings to enable policy makers and the general public understand them clearly.

Earlier, Dr. Alex Opio, the assistant commissioner for national disease control, said that many youths engage in premarital sex, risky and reckless behaviour; such as non-condom use and having multiple sex partners. Dr. Opio recommended that the HIV/AIDS policy formulation should promote the use of condoms by increasing their accessibility and acceptability. “We should also promote youth-friendly services like using peers in influencing behavioural change. The price for inaction is high,” Dr. Opio added.

State minister for health, Dr. Emmanuel Otaala said that few Ugandans know their HIV status yet this is the entry point into HIV prevention, treatment and care. “Only 12% of Ugandans have tested HIV yet countries that learnt from us are doing better. This is terrible yet we say that Uganda has been fighting HIV/AIDS for the last 25 years,” he said, adding that religious leaders should sensitive couples about fidelity.

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