Kasana-Luweero Diocesan bishop has accused the media fraternity for worsening the HIV/Aids scourge in the country.
Right Reverend Dr. Paul Ssemwogerere says that the misleading adverts and messages that have dominated the media today are playing a major role in the raising infection rates.
Bishop Ssemwogerere noted that on World Aids Day every media house in country has played messages that create awareness but in the remaining 364 days in the year they play conflicting messages or adverts that promote events like musical shows, beer parties and films among others where people turn wild and engage in promiscuity.
// Cue in: “I would like to thank Media……..’’//
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In his homily during a special mass for People Living With HIV/AIDS at Kasana-Luweero Cathedral in commemoration of the World Aids Day on Thursday, Bishop Ssemwogerere also asked the government to regulate some adverts in the media and introduce a policy where radio and TV stations play clips that aimed at warning people on effects of engaging in promiscuity after the adverts like it is with cigarette adverts.
However, the chairperson for people living with HIV/Aids in Luweero, Kagumba Mulinda, who also attended the service, blamed the church for preaching false gospel that prayer can heal the disease.
He explained that scores of HIV/Aids patients have died in churches due to lack of ARVs after being hoodwinked that prayers can heal. He asked the bishop to encourage some church leaders to stop the message so that HIV/Aids patients can go to health centers to access ARVs for survival.
According to African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), Luweero HIV/Aids prevalence stands at 12 % higher than the national rate of 7.1 %.
