Oyam records over 1,314 new HIV cases in three months

23 August 2024, 10:05 am

By Eman Yonah oruk

This was revealed by Caroline Agaro, the Assistant District Health Officer of Oyam district, during a two-day health sector performance review meeting held at Rainbow Hotel in Oyam town council.

According to Agaro, they are experiencing a high rate of new HIV infections, with many people engaging in unprotected sex, which increases the risk of spreading the disease, particularly among adolescents aged 15-25 years. She advised those on treatment to continue taking their medicines as prescribed to help curb the spread of this deadly disease.

Agaro identified several new hot spots in Oyam district leading in new HIV infections, including: Loro Sub county with 160 new cases, followed by Aber Sub county with 135, Kamdini Sub county with 124, Acaba with 115, Iceme Sub county with 110, Ngai with 98, Myene with 91, Aleka with 88, Otwal with 85, Minakulu Sub county with 59, Kamdini town council with 53, Minakulu town council with 50, Abok Sub county with 41, Loro town council with 39, Oyam town council with 36, and Iceme town council with 31 new cases of HIV infections.

She further stated that many people report to and camp in these Sub counties a day before the market to trade, drink, and engage in sex. Worst of all, they often have unprotected sex, leading to a high spread of HIV infections.

Conclusively, Agaro called on people around such trading centres to use protective measures to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

However, Christ Ongom, the vice chairperson of Oyam district, in his remarks, appealed to parents to be vigilant with their children to prevent them from contracting HIV/AIDS and from entering into early marriages.

During the reactions, Francis Angor, the LC3 chairperson of Aber Sub county, and Clement Otim, one of the senior assistant secretaries, had the following to say.