Uganda puts morality before condoms

Ugandan experts say that it was an uphill task initially, with the figure doubling every six months after the first two suspected AIDS cases were reported in 1982. So much so, that the figure touched the 1,000 mark in 1987. But then the spread of the disease was arrested dramatically.

Statistics show the Seroprevalance (number of positive cases among pregnant women) in antenatal clinics has dropped from 30 to 6.9 per cent. ‘‘The target is just 3 per cent by the end of five years,’’ said Dr Sam Okware, Uganda’s first AIDS control programme director and Commissioner of Health Services.

Dr Okware said there is a basic difference in the AIDS control programme followed in his country and that by the rest of the world. While the fight against the disease is largely condom-centric for other nations, in Uganda, condoms come last. The emphasis in his country is more on morality — a concept that generated much heat at the conference.

The ABC of Okware’s AIDS control principle has ‘‘A’’ for abstinence (or delaying the age of sexual activity), ‘‘B’’ for being faithful to one’s partner and ‘‘C’’ for correct and consistent use of condoms. ‘‘A and B are two major components, the C doesn’t have much use in Uganda. It comes only after the first two fails,’’ he said.

‘‘We added our own ‘D’ to it. Which meant the fear of death,’’ the doctor said, adding, ‘‘ While this might sound a little impractical to the rest of the world, it worked here.’’

‘‘Sex with multiple partners has reduced to more than 60 per cent. Most people are monogamous. The age of the first sexual contact has gone up from 14 to 17 and condom use in urban areas has increased from 5 to 60 per cent,’’ he said.

‘‘Our society is very open about sex. There is a concept of inheriting women, for example, you can take the widow of your brother as your wife. In certain tribes, a girl can’t say no to sex during some festivals,’’ Dr Okware said.