Safe male circumcision kicks off in Teso

By James Odong and Felix Osujo 12/5/2012

Over 259 students drawn from different secondary schools in Teso have undergone safe male circumcision. 

The one week safe male circumcision exercise is spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Bayalor Uganda is being conducted in Ngora High School targeting an estimated 1000 students.

This was revealed by Dr.Barbra Nanteza the HIV Prevention Officer in the Ministry of Health during the launch of the exercise in Teso on Sunday 22/4/2012.

“In this particular camp, we had targeted 1000 students but we have registered 1023.The Ministry of Health is pushing on with prevention because prevention is better than cure. But even when you are circumcised, it does not mean that your are now safe and you cannot get HIV virus”, Dr. Nanteza said.

Speaking at the same function, Dr.Jushua Musinguzi, the acting Programme Manager, Aids Control Programme in the Ministry of Health revealed that the just concluded nationwide survey has shown that 129,000 new infections are occurring in Uganda annually.

“The survey showed that 6.7% of adult population aged between 15 to 49 years is infected with HIV/AIDS. The big burden of 7.7% is born by the women aged between 15 to 49 years have HIV compared to 5.6% among men. Urban areas are more affected than the rural areas.”, Dr. Musinguzi said.

Dr.Musinguzi said in the North East area covering Teso and karamoja, HIV prevalence is 5.8%; slightly lower that the national average.

He added that out of 1.2 million Ugandans who are HIV infected, 577,000 require anti retroviral treatment because their immunity has been destroyed.

“And yet as we speak, we only have 57% of those people who need treatment leaving 331,000 others require treatment, so the figures and the burden of the epidemic is big”, he said.

The function that was presided by the Minister of State for Teso Affairs, Hon Christine Amongin Aporu was attended by Ngora Woman MP, Jacqueline Amongin, RDCs and LC5 chairperson from Teso. Ends.

Stolen Soroti hospital CD4 count machine recovered

James Odong and Felix Osujo 12/5/2012

A CD 4 count machine which had been stolen from Uganda Cares, Soroti Anti-Retroviral Therapy Clinic at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital has been recovered.

The OC CID Soroti, Stephen Kaija says the machine was recoveredby Police following a tip off in Orwadai, suburb near Soroti Municipality.

“We recovered the machine in a house belonging to one Simon Elungat; who is also in our custody. The machine was covered under his bed. We are still interrogating the suspects to find out how the plan was hatched and where the machine was to be sold”, Kaija told The New vision on Sunday in his office.

He added that even as the machine has been recovered, seven suspects remain in custody as investigations continue. 

The CD4 machine was stolen from Soroti Hospital on Good Friday.

A CD4 count machine is important for HIV/AIDS care and treatment since it allows doctors to know when to start patients on life-saving therapy.

For a patient with HIV infection, CD4 counts help determine the stage of infection, guide drug choices and indicate the patient’s response to treatment and disease progression.

The Medical Officer in charge Uganda Cares, Dr.Gilbert Sangadi said the recovery of the CD4 machine was a big relief and asked clients who were supposed to have been tested and missed out after the machine was stolen to go for their routine CD4 count check.

“Over the last nine days, more than 400 HIV patients who were due for CD4 count test missed out. I want to ask all those who missed the CD4 count to come and we run their CD4 count”, Dr.Sangadi told The New Vision on Sunday 15^th.April at Soroti Central Police Station.

He said Uganda Cares Soroti centre serves over 7,500 clients.

   

According to a July 2011 report by local authorities, the HIV prevalence has gone up in Soroti, now standing at 6.2 %. This has risen by more than 2 % since 2005, when prevalence stood at 4.3%.

Among other factors, the rise was attributed to excessive alcohol consumption and reluctance to use condoms.

The national census of 2002 estimated the district population to be approximately

193,300, of whom 51.2 % are female and 48.8% are male.

The district population growth rate was estimated at 2.8% annually. It is estimated that in 2010, the population of Soroti district was approximately 241,200.ENDS.

Construction of Soroti Fruit Factory delayed.

James Odongo and Felix Osujo 12/5/2012

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, HON. BRIGHT RWAMIRAMA has said the construction of the long awaited juice making factory in Soroti District has delayed because the site meant for the factory is water logged. 

Rwamirama told the press in Soroti that progress has been made and the consultant hired to conduct a feasibility study on the environment impact assessment and the report concerning the site for the fruit factory which will soon be reviewed.

“The factory is on course. We however have a challenge. The consultant says the area which has been identified is water logged and is prone to floods. That’s why am here on a site visit but we have been assured by the District leaders that there is a better place in the same area which is not water logged; we shall make a report about it”,Rwamirama said.

 Rwamirama, accompanied by the Director of Crop Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Opolot Okasai and Soroti LC5 Chairman George Michael Egunyu visited the proposed fruit processing site.

The Minister was responding to concerns over the delayed construction of the fruit making factory in Soroti.

He said there were delays in the procurement process of the consultant and other technical issues but the factory is on schedule.

A key meeting to discuss the proposed fruit processing factory in the Teso region of Uganda had resolved that the plant should have been ready before the end of 2010.

Stakeholders in the factory met in Soroti last year in June and made a number of decisions regarding the proposals, including timeframes and distribution of roles.

The Minister said it was very unfortunate that there were people who are misinforming the public about the fruit factory because shs 10 billion which the government allocated to the Uganda Development Cooperation for the preparatory stage  had not been misused and part of it has been spent in feasibility study and environment impact assessment.

“The South Korean government has provided US dollars 6.5 million for the factory civil works, procurement of equipment, training of the technical people and sensitization of the farmers”, he said.

Rwamirama pointed out that there was need to sensitize the farmers on the right variety of the oranges and mangoes for factory noting that the current number of oranges will not be able to sustain the factory once it’s operational.

“We have oranges and mangoes here but once the factory starts producing, it can chew all these oranges and mangoes within a week, so we need constant production to sustain the factory.

The construction of a fruit factory would fulfill a pledge made by President Yoweri Museveni when he toured the region in 2008. Museveni hoped the factory would enable farmers to add value to their fruit and help lift the Teso region, one of the poorest in the country, out of poverty. ENDS.

Micro credit scheme for people living with HIV launched

James Odong 12/5/2012

A non Governmental Organization based in the eastern Ugandan District of Soroti, Uganda Cares has launched a micro credit scheme to support people living with HIV.

The project dubbed Social Economic Empowerment Programme (SEEP) was launched by the LC5 Chairman, Soroti, George Michael
Egunyu at Sofliv Hotel recently.

According to the Programme Officer SEEP, James Kiiiza Balya the credit scheme is meant to support clients who have improved in health
to meet the daily needs.

“When this programme was launched in 2008, four pillars were basically identified to run this programme and they include micro credit, psychosocial support, capacity building and advocacy. All this put together would form a holistic approach that will compliment medical treatment that has been advanced in the past ten years by Uganda Cares in Uganda”,Kiiza explained.

Balya explained that 91 clients from Uganda Cares Soroti centre drawn from the clusters which benefited include Asianut Kichinjanji, Arucokinos Nakatunya and Kengere Moruapesur are to benefit from the revolving fund.

“This people who have undergone the training and orientation and they form the pioneer class but our ambitions is to reach as many clients as possible because in Soroti clinic we have about 7000 registered clients.

Balya pointed out that the revolving fund under SEEP is a grant of 150,000 US dollars which is going to revolve within the clients. About shs 15.6million was advanced to the Soroti cluster which was given to 52 out of the 91 beneficiaries.

Martin Amodoi, the District Focal Point Person for HIV noted that the number of people living with HIV in Soroti District was more than 15,000.

“A majority of this people is living in the communities and has not tested or opened themselves. They still have fear. Some of them have mixed feelings and they are still continuing to pass the virus to those who may not be having it. This is a big challenge to us. Those one accessing treatment are only 2000”, Amodoi said.

He added that one of the major challenges faced by the District in handling HIV is on treatment and Soroti District Local Government has not been able to provide such treatment.

“But thank God. Soroti District Local Government has depended on partners like Uganda Cares, The Aids Support Organisation and Baylor Uganda. Can you imagine what could have happened within that time when the Local Government has not been able to offer such services?” he asked.

He said people living with HIV need food because HIV weakens the body.

Uganda Cares provides services, including free antiretroviral therapy, across the country. In addition, Uganda Cares conducts regular HIV testing events, identifying thousands of positive people and referring them to care. Ends.

Government forms task force for a Public University in Teso

James Odong 12/5/2011

The Ministry of Education and Sports has formed a five man task force to spearhead the establishment of a public university in Teso.

The Minister of Education and Sports, Jessica Alupo has said that the task is headed by Prof.Robert ikoja who is from Makerere University Information communication Technology Department.

 Alupo said other members of the task force are Prof James Okello,Prof Achimo Ruth Etibot and Prof. Lawrence Too Okema who are all  lecturers of Gulu University.  Former Katakwi LC5 Chairman, Stephen Ilemukorit Okure is also a member of the task force.

Alupo says the task force which begins its work next Month is charged with the responsibility of establishing a science based public University in Teso. The University is expected to start operating in 2013.

“After the task force has completed the project, the same team will go ahead to form an administrative body which will run the university. Am asking the people of Teso to accord this team necessary assistance and to cooperate with them for the good of the region”, Alupo explained.

Once the construction of the University is completed, the administration of the public university, according to Alupo will be headed by Prof Robert Ikoja as the Vice Chancellor, Prof James Okello as the Academic Registrar.

Others are Prof Ruth Achimo Etibot as the University Administrator in charge of Academics, Prof Lawrence Too Okema as the University Secretary while former Katakwi LC5 Katakwi will be the University Administrator. Ends.

Ecweru wants famers to compete to produce food

By James Odong and Felix Osujo 12/5/2012

Ecweru wants famers to compete to produce food

The Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness and Relief, Musa Ecweru has challenged rural farmers in Amuria District to compete to produce food.

Ecweru said, the Sub county NAADS Coordinators must champion this exercise and enumerate the farmers throughout the District in order to ensure that the exercise is a success.

“There must be competition in food production and we are going to assess families as entities as opposed to the practice of generalizing farmers who produce food. We want to know who has how much food and who does not have and why? Because we don’t want to promote the practice where there are those who are hiding among those who are hard working”, Ecweru explained.

He explained that this was one way of ensuring food security in families.

He said a team from the District will move throughout the District to mobilize farmers and remind them about food production and those found lagging behind are tasked to explain why they don’t have enough food.

Ecweru was speaking as a guest of honor celebrations at Abarilela P/S in Abarilela Sub County.

Ecweru challenged the leaders to spearhead development in their localities so as to uplift the living standards of the people.

He observed that poverty must be fought starting from household levels and leaders must be seen working hard in transforming the communities.

Ecweru noted that to make poverty history, family heads must be involved in the fight against poverty. Ends.