Dr. Diana Atwine Urges Youth to Embrace Abstinence in Combating Rising HIV/AIDS Infections
Dr. Diana Atwine urges youth to prioritize abstinence for HIV prevention. Despite a decrease in overall infections, youth rates remain high. Atwine emphasizes values, encourages testing, and acknowledges the upcoming World AIDS Day under the theme “Let Communities Lead.”
Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, has called upon the youth to return to fundamental principles in addressing the escalating issue of HIV/AIDS infections among their demographic. Atwine emphasized that abstinence remains the most established method for HIV prevention and remains applicable to the current generation of youth.
These remarks were delivered during the Adolescents and Young Pre-World AIDS Day conference convened at Hotel Africa on Monday, November 27. At the event, Atwine was informed that HIV/AIDS prevalence among adolescents was not decreasing as anticipated, with new infections among the youth reported to be twice the rate of the general population, despite an overall reduction from 7.3% to 5.4% in the past year.
In addressing this concern, Atwine urged the youth to adhere to the values instilled by their parents, emphasizing the importance of waiting, leading a virtuous life, and focusing on their studies. She stressed the benefits of knowing one’s HIV-negative status and encouraged a commitment to avoiding reckless behavior.
Highlighting the critical impact of undisclosed HIV statuses, Atwine expressed gratitude to the youth engaged in encouraging their peers to undergo testing. She underscored the need for those testing positive to be connected to care and for continuous treatment to suppress viral loads. According to their statistics, 32% of young people are unaware of their HIV status, posing a significant challenge to the country’s efforts against the epidemic.
Dr. Atwine also acknowledged the upcoming World AIDS Day, to be commemorated on December 1, under the theme “Let Communities Lead.” Emphasizing the importance of community involvement, she noted that this message would extend beyond a single day, shaping activities throughout November and culminating in the release of the World AIDS Day Report, titled “Let Communities Lead,” in late November.
