We hear little news from Uganda about nodding syndrome and Ebola these days, but the country has much more to worry about. Via New Vision: Civil service worst hit by HIV/AIDS. Excerpt:
HIV/AIDS is more prevalent among public servants than other workers in the different sectors of the economy, according to the latest revelation by the ministry of gender, labour and social development.
At least 16 in every 100 civil servants are infected with HIV/AIDS, a high rate when juxtaposed with the national prevalence rate of 7.3%.
Civil servants are followed by workers in hotels and restaurants where the prevalence stands at 10.3% and sales officials (9.8%).
Equally worst hit are the real estate dealers and their workforce where HIV prevalence is at 8.6%, followed by manufacturers (7.4%).
Ironically, the fishing sector usually considered the worst hit came seventh with 7.1%, two percentage points below the national average.
HIV prevalence among workers in the transport and communications sector stands at 7% and 6.9% among those in domestic employment.
Participants in the breakfast meeting at Sheraton Hotel where disability and elderly state minister, Sulaiman Madada, presented the figures yesterday attributed the problem in civil servants to having a higher disposable income.
"When men get more income, they like looking for more wives and majority tend to go out for prostitutes. It becomes worse when this income is stable and one is assured of a monthly salary plus allowances," said Margaret Baba Diri, the Koboko district Woman MP.
"People who earn good money including MPs and businessmen are the ones going for young girls and spreading the disease. They are taking things for granted because they can afford ARVs. We need to sensitise them."
Madada did not quote a specific survey but officials from the gender ministry explained that the statistics were compiled from several national reports.
