In a recent statement, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) in Uganda has expressed deep concern regarding the escalating number of adolescent girls contracting HIV. They have warned that if immediate action is not taken, this situation may spiral out of control within the country.
UNFPA points out that adolescent girls are struggling to realize their full potential in life due to engaging in premarital sexual activity, which exposes them to HIV, teenage pregnancies, defilement, gender-based violence, and poverty.
According to UNFPA, adolescent girls face a significantly higher risk of HIV infection, with two-thirds of all new HIV infections occurring among them. This dire situation often leads to many girls dropping out of school due to unwanted pregnancies and early marriages.
The root causes of this problem are partly attributed to gender inequalities and traditional norms that make it challenging for girls and young women to negotiate for safe sex, particularly considering that their reproductive systems are not yet fully developed.
Laura Criado, the Gender and Youth Programs Coordinator at UNFPA, addressed a group of students during the International Day of the Girl Child at the National Theatre Auditorium in Kampala. She highlighted that the number of girls contracting HIV and AIDS is four times higher than that of men and women above the age of 25 combined.
Criado emphasized, “HIV prevalence is at 6.2% among the entire population, with young women aged 15 to 24 years bearing the biggest burden as their infection rates are four times higher than the rest of the population.”
Uganda has made significant progress in its national HIV treatment program, resulting in many children born with HIV reaching their adolescent years. However, this has brought about an unprecedented HIV and AIDS burden among adolescents, along with the added threat of opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis (TB) that poses a significant risk to the survival of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Criado added, “Adolescent mothers not only need improved access to screening and ongoing treatment but also support to live positively with the disease and prevent its transmission to others.”
Additionally, the rate of adolescent pregnancies is alarmingly high, standing at 25% among girls aged between 15 and 19, with only 12% of adolescent girls being married.
According to UNFPA’s 2021 cost of inaction report, the Ugandan government is expected to spend over 645 billion Ugandan shillings annually on healthcare for teenage mothers and the education of their children.
Ambassador Kelvin Colgan of Ireland to Uganda has challenged the government to take punitive measures against those who engage in defiling young girls, which ultimately hampers their career growth. He stressed the importance of investing in child rights and providing relevant sexuality education to empower young people in making informed decisions to address the challenges they face.
Gender Minister Betty Amongi cautioned young girls against engaging in premarital sex and advised them to focus on their education, irrespective of their family’s financial status. She encouraged them to resist temptations from wealthy individuals, boyfriends, and sugar daddies, as these individuals often seek to undermine their educational pursuits.
