Bunyoro's High HIV and Malaria Rates Linked to Oil Boom, Condom Shortages

Officials overseeing Global Fund investments in Uganda have expressed serious concern over persistently high rates of malaria and HIV/AIDS in the Bunyoro sub-region. A recent monitoring tour of health facilities in Buliisa, Kikuube, and Hoima revealed alarming statistics, with malaria prevalence reaching 42% in Kikuube and 42.2% in Buliisa, far exceeding the national average.

During the evaluation, Abdul Nassar Magezi, a board member of the Uganda Country Coordinating Mechanism (UCCM) for the Global Fund, noted that while interventions are in place, transmission rates remain stubbornly high. He attributed part of the malaria burden to poor sanitation and overgrown vegetation around homes, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Adding to the crisis, Hilary Nuwamanya, the youth representative on the UCCM board, pointed out a critical shortage of free condoms in high-risk areas such as industrial parks, lodges, and landing sites. This scarcity, he warned, jeopardizes Uganda’s goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Confirming the supply chain issue, the Kikuube District Health Officer revealed that the district has not received condom supplies for nearly a year. The oversight team also observed the misuse of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, with some households reportedly using them as fencing instead of for malaria prevention.

Moses Businga, Deputy District Chairperson of Buliisa, linked the surge in infections to the rapid population growth spurred by the oil sector developments in the Albertine Graben. The influx of migrant workers and an associated rise in sex work have significantly increased HIV exposure risks, placing a considerable strain on local health services. Mr. Businga appealed for urgent emergency funding and support to combat the rising number of preventable deaths, particularly among the youth.

Source: Daily Monitor