Afro-Arab youth shun HIV testing

By, Barbara Among and Anthony Bugembe, New Vision, March 16, 2008

Delegates attending the Afro-Arab youth conference have shunned testing for HIV due to cultural biases and lack of awareness.

Those from the Arab world told the medical personnel that their culture did not allow promiscuity therefore, they believed they were HIV negative.

Sex is also a private issue which should not be discussed with strangers or in public, they added.

An Egyptian female delegate argued: “The decision to test for HIV has to be taken by my husband.”

According to a counsellor from the Straight Talk Foundation, Resty Nabwire, Arab delegates only took literature on HIV/Aids.

During the two-day HIV campaign last week, only 101 delegates, of which the majority were from Uganda and Kenya, tested for the AIDS virus. Two Ghanains and Libyians also participated.

Poor organisation was also to blame for the low turn-up.

Straight Talk complained that they were not allocated a place to operate from in time.

“We were supposed to be here right from the beginning to the end of the conference, but that didn’t happen. Even for the two days (Wednesday and Friday), the tents were only provided after 2:00pm,” Nabwire said.

Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/616995