The Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasana-Luwero the Right Reverend Lawrence Mukasa has expressed concern about the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which leads to the Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) among married couples.
Speaking Sunday during the Diocesan Holy Matrimonial day celebrations held at St. Kizito Nattyoole Parish, Bishop Mukasa, said that it’s really bad to see people who get married in the Church when they are HIV negative to later become positive.
He avers that it is a sign of infidelity contrary to the vows they take that they will stick to one another till death does them part. Bishop Mukasa stressed that this should not happen for the marrieds to be among those reported to be HIV positive.
According to Bishop Mukasa, it’s really bad to learn that among you married couples there are infections asking how that is even explainable. The Prelate advised the marrieds to always tight mark each other, to avert chances of temptations which lead to adultery, which adultery exposes them to situations of contracting the deadly virus.
The Prelate who is four months now in office at the episcopate since August 5, 2023 come days after Uganda joined the rest of the world to mark the International Aids Day on December 1st.
Every year, on 1st December, the world commemorates International AIDS Day where people around the globe unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to the scourge.
It is over four decades since the first case of AIDS was diagnosed in Uganda in 1982 and the HIV/AIDS epidemic has since had a devastating impact on Uganda.
In Uganda, women are disproportionately affected by HIV. Out of 1.4 million people living with the disease, 860 000 are women and 80 000 are children. According to the recent statistics from the Uganda AIDS Commission, about 52,000 new HIV infections and 17,000 AIDS-related deaths occur per year. These new infections are occurring among young girls and women between the ages of 15 and 24 years.
Speaking at the national event as the country commemorated the World AIDS Day at Kibaale playground in Rakai District, President Museveni reiterated his call to Ugandans to exercise prevention as the main strategy and solution in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“Everyone should prevent himself from contracting HIV/AIDS and it is possible,” President Museveni said. “You should counsel the children from the tender age that even though the treatment is available, the virus limits your health if you get infected. So, to get the full potential of your life, avoid this virus. Prevention is the number one solution in our fight against HIV/AIDS.”
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