UNAIDS Uganda has injected $30,000 into Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) in the second phase of box out HIV/Aids out of Uganda campaign.
This comes after a successful completion of phase in which UNAIDS and other partners want to use sport –boxing in particular to boxing to extend HIV/Aids services like testing, counseling, treatment and sensitization to masses in order to ‘box out’ the killer disease by 2030 campaign.
UBF president Moses Muhang was happy with the partnership renewal –saying that the boxing fraternity which is mainly from the ghetto had been left out on the HIV/aids sensitization.
“We have taken a year with UNAIDS in partnership as they observed our progress and our capacity. And the partnership worth $30000 comes as a result of the confidence UNAIDS and other partners have in us as far as mobilization of the boxing fraternity is concerned. This is all about the strategic and trustworthy leadership I promised when taking over UBF leadership and we shall be unveiling more national and international partners,” noted Muhangi during the unveiling of the partnership last Friday at the UNAIDS offices in Kamwokya-Kampala.
“UNAIDS will use our platform to spread the message about HIV/Aids in Uganda since boxing is multiple sport which has big following. We are going to organize sensitization workshops in the clubs, competitions and also mobilize the fraternity to go for testing, treatment, safe male circumcision as well as use of condoms and faithfulness to partners. We shall also preach against domestic violence,” added Muhangi.
The Aids Information center (AIC) director Dr. Shery Birungi said that AIC, as the implementation agency, is happy with UBF work despite need for more mobilization.
“We proud to be part of the partnership of UNAIDS and we are using this boxing platform to attract young people to go for HIV testing. More than 1500 boxers tested in the first phase and the positive people are linked to Medical care. We managed to have outreach study and distributed over 28,000 condoms in the first phase,” she said. Dr. Karusa Kiragu, the UNAIDS country director said that they are working with other partners agencies to achieve their goals. “I am happy with UBF leadership. They deliver what they promise and they really work hard to achieve their targets. We are working as a group to deliver our goals and boxers should be ambassadors to their localities as far as community mobilization and sensitization is concerned,” noted Dr. Karusa.
Uganda has made significant progress in fighting HIV and AIDS during the period 2010- 2018. However, the magnitude of the epidemic remains high with 1,000 new infections and 500 deaths every week. This fact sheet is based on the performance during the period January 2010 to December 2018.
The estimated total number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) was 1,400,000 (300,0000-1,500,000) as of 2018 while the estimated number of New HIV infections as of December 2018 was 26,000, Women-19,000,Men- 18,500, Young People (15-24) and 7500 children (0-14), unfortunately Women are more affected but what is surprising is that the men die more than women. The second phase officially rolls off next week with visits to boxing clubs.
