Download PLHIV Press Statement during the launch of the

PRESS STATEMENT
Contact: Stella Kentutsi – 0701444440, [email protected]
As Uganda sets out to attain the 90x90x90 targets, People Living with HIV (PLHIV) call
upon Government to ensure sufficient HIV/AIDS & TB Drug stocks and Viral load Testing
services.
People Living with HIV under their Umbrella organization NAFOPHANU along with other
Civil Society Organizations are launching the 90x90x90 targets campaign. The target refers to
three key steps that are essential to both better health and care for PLHIV and to limiting new
infections as well as further spread of the HIV pandemic.
These are global targets set by UNAIDS with an aim of having 90% of all people living with
HIV knowing their status, 90% of all those who are diagnosed HIV positive to be on sustained
antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 90% of those on ART having an undetectable viral load by
2030. This highlights both the importance of wider access to viral load monitoring and the
importance of viral suppression as a major goal of ART. This also recognizes the dramatic
reduction in transmission risk once viral load is undetectable.
In order to beat the targets and ensure that PLHIV have a quality and productive life, HIV&TB
drugs should be readily available. Currently, there are 1.6 million PLHIV. Unfortunately, a
number of districts have reported sporadic HIV, TB, OIs drug stock outs and other supplies such
as condoms. This has a big implication towards viral load suppression, increased cases of drug
resistance and HIV related deaths. The roll out of Option B+ towards eMTCT, management of
TB/HIV co-infections and full support to young people who are our window of opportunity will
be adversely affected. As said in our campaign, “Drug stock out Kill! Stop it”, we call upon
government to commit more resources to HIV as it is cost effective both on behalf of the
government and PLHIV for healthy and productive lives.
We appreciate the government’s commitment to establish the AIDS Trust fund but call upon its
quick implementation as it is currently ring fenced for treatment and supplies. As we scale up to
realize these targets, more funding should be tailored to the increased demand of HIV drugs and
viral load testing. Among other things, we call upon the Ministry of Health to introduce the
program of third line treatment for clients who fail on second line as well as providing more
trained health workers and counselors to provide an enabling environment for testing and
adherence to treatment. There is also need for the government to establish a policy on HIV
related Stigma and Discrimination so that people embrace testing.
With uninterrupted universal access to treatment, PLHIV will have their viral load suppressed
thus achieving the goal of Zero New HIV infections and Zero HIV related deaths as we realize
the 90x90x90 targets with Uganda leading the global pace again.
Together for a Positive Difference!
National Forum of People Living with HIV/AIDS Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU)