The Director General of Health services in Ministry of Health (MoH), Uganda, Prof. Anthony Mbonye recently launched the National HIV Testing services policy and implementation guidelines that would enable Uganda reduce by half the number of HIV infected individuals and at the same time increase those who know their status.

Referred to as the first 90 of 90-90-90, the guideline targets that by 2020 all people living with HIV will know their HIV status. The guidelines also emphasize the continuum across HIV testing, prevention, treatment and care, and are based on the 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for HIV Prevention and Treatment. Given these services, Prof Mbonye urged the public to test for HIV, know their HIV status and if infected to seek prompt treatment available in health facilities throughout the country.

At the same function, Prof Mbonye initiated the dissemination of the consolidated guidelines for HIV prevention, care and treatment. He said that only 63% of the 1.5 million people infected with HIV were enrolled on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in 2016, adding that, 85,487 individuals in pre-ART care who are eligible for ART will be now enrolled in the coming months following the disseminated guidelines.

The WHO Representative in Uganda Dr. Tarande Constant Manzila congratulated Uganda on the commendable work done to tackle HIV/AIDS over the years adding that the guidelines launched and disseminated will further help the country consolidate the gains already made. Dr. Tarande reaffirmed WHO’s unwavering support to the government of Uganda in fighting HIV/AIDS and other diseases that contribute to the burden of disease in the country.

The new guidelines are a result of intensive consultation with AIDS Development Partners and other stakeholders. The guidelines were drafted into the new “Consolidated Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of HIV and AIDS in Uganda" and launched at the end of 2016. WHO supported the MoH with experts to lead the process of drafting the guidelines that will see the country take bold steps in management of the HIV epidemic.

The function was attended by AIDS Development Partners, representatives of diplomatic missions, members of the armed forces, academia, private sector, district leaders, Civil Society Organizations and the media.

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Below:

01. Prof. Mbonye (center) launches the guidelines as Dr. Tarande (left) and Ms Ms. Colette Marcellin

02. Participants at the conference