Ministry of Health launches “Munoonye” campaign to identify untreated children living with HIV in Uganda
Drake Nyamugabwa
The Ministry of Health with support from PEPFAR has kicked off a campaign dubbed “Munoonye” (find the child) aimed at identifying children living with HV/AIDS but are not yet on treatment starting with 5 regions of Uganda.
The campaign according to the Ministry of Health will take up to 6 months starting with April 2024 and will target children and adolescents of the two categories aged 0-9 years and those from 10-19 years respectively.
This is aimed at identifying over 10,000 children and adolescents who are living with HIV but have not yet started treatment
During the national launch of the campaign on Friday 12th April 2024 at Fairway Hotel, stakeholders and partners committed to the implementation of the campaign henceforth.
During the national launch of "Munoonye" campign
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine while officiating and launching the campaign said that for the campaign to yield much more in the future, there is a need to underscore the role of anti-natal care which she said is crucial in preventing children from contracting HIV at an early stage.
She said that during the “Munoonye” campaign stakeholders and the general public need to cooperate and find the children of the target age groups who are not on treatment but are living with HIV, which she said is hindering the country from attaining desired targets.
“The identified children between 0-19 years as age group is keeping us behind target. There is a need to get out of your comfort zone and find those not initiated on treatment. The success in treating HIV lies in suppressing the viral load to avoid sources. The 95% target of this campaign can only be achieved if efforts are doubled in identifying why there is still Mother to child transmission of HIV in our communities and how that gap can be bridged” she said
The PS added that during the Munoonye campaign, it should be coupled with community sensitization and roll out of self-testing kits to certain groups of people.
“As we design the campaign, it is important to provide community sensitization through education as a resource and to build confidence through allowing access to self-testing,” she said
The Programme Manager Ministry of Health (MOH) Dr. Mutumba highlighted the importance of early identification of different population groups timely linkages to treatment and optimal treatment on regiments for children and adolescents.
Dr Eleanor Namusoke from the department of ACP MOH explained that the campaign is hinged on the collaboration of partners and stakeholders with support from PREPFAR including MCH, partners at national, regional, and district facility levels among others.
She said that the campaign that starts in April 2024 is targeting an 80% score in 5 regions including Region 1 and 2, Mid North, mid-western, and South West.
Stakeholder and partners signed the commitment card at the national launch activated for the next 6 months including PEPFAR, NAPHOPHANU, USAID, UHA, the Media CHAI among others.
Senior Public Relations Officer MOH, Emmanuel Ainebyoona signing on behalf of the media
