HIV/AIDS SITUATION
The fact that fewer men of those who are HIV positive are identified through responsive HIV testing services, fewer men of those identified to be positive are enrolled on anti retroviral therapy and fewer men on treatment adhere to treatment in order to attain and sustain viral suppression, means that there is a group of the population (usually men) with high viral loads in their bodies, serving as conduits of unchecked and continued new HIV infections in the general population more so in the adolescent girls and young women because Men are less likely to come to health facilities than women to seek healthcare services. There is amounting evidence that men of the age group 0f 40 – 49 and especially in central I and 2 region of Uganda are at a distinct disadvantage in the roll – out of ART in Uganda. Disproportionately fewer men than women are accessing ART, men are starting ART with more advanced HIV disease; men are more likely than women to die on ART, to interrupt treatment and to be lost to follow-up on ART. Despite this evidence of gender inequity in access to ART, most national ART-related policies, strategies, frameworks and programs in Uganda are still blind to men. Addressing these issues effectively requires developing interventions which encourage uptake of prevention, testing and treatment for men.
