UGANDA: UEC Caritas department to conduct seminar for HIV/AIDS Program managers at diocesan level to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS issues
Following the previous workshop and community issues identification survey conducted in 2014 on HIV and AIDS awareness creation, the Caritas department of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) will once again conduct a thematic seminar for HIV/AIDS Focal Persons and Program Managers at diocesan level, to deepen their understanding of the latest trends in HIV/AIDS infections and interventions among youth.
The two-day workshop, which will be held in Kisugu a suburb located in Entebbe town, will be conducted from August 17-19, 2016. Over 30 participants from nine dioceses across the country have so far confirmed participation in the workshop.
Mrs. Helen Chanikare, the Program Manager of the UEC Caritas department said that the aim of the workshop is to empower diocesan stakeholders to sharpen current efforts by Caritas in addressing the HIV/AIDS challenge in the communities where they work and share best practices on changes in behavior among youth.
“The seminar will provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to share experiences and enhance their understanding of emerging issues in HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation as well as those targeting the youth in particular,” she said.
The workshop will also assess the extent to which the invited dioceses, which includes Gulu, Nebbi, Arua, Hoima, Kiyinda-Mityana, Lira, Kampala, Lugazi and Kasese have implemented their work plan.
Cognizant of the fact that behavior change is crucial to influencing HIV/AIDS trends in Uganda, the seminar will enable Caritas staff to develop a road map to guide all actors at national, diocesan and community level to work together towards influencing a change in behavior among the youth in their communities. The focus on youth is based on the fact that currently they are the most-at-risk segment of the population, with infection rate among them standing at about 38.9 percent.
Meanwhile, two resource persons from the Uganda Virus Research Institute of AIDS and Mildmay Uganda will give a talk on two different topics which includes Current Trends in Infection and Mitigation of HIV/AIDS and Communications and Community Response on HIV/AIDS respectively.
By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
