President Museveni has used the International Women’s Day celebrations to advise Ugandans to go for blood checkups before having sexual intercourse with their partners in order to avoid disease transition.
Mr Museveni who was speaking briefly about the prevention of Hepatitis B, advised Ugandans not to look for the disease which he said is like HIV/AIDS.
“Hepatitis B spreads like AIDS, so if you have not got it, don’t look for it. Don’t go with somebody (for sex) whom you have not checked because you can check at your own cost,” said the president.
Mr Museveni said that government provides free Hepatitis B drugs but urged Ugandans who had converged in Dokolo to celebrate the women’s day to test for the disease which has become common of recent.
“If you want to check, you can go and check before you conduct any business (sex),” Mr Museveni remarked attracting laughter from the crowd.
About hepatitis B
According to WebMD, an online medical journal, Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Most adults who get it have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis B.
Sometimes the virus causes a long-term infection, called chronic hepatitis B. Over time, it can damage your liver. Babies and young children infected with the virus are more likely to get chronic hepatitis B.
You can have hepatitis B and not know it. You may not have symptoms. If you do, they can make you feel like you have the flu. But as long as you have the virus, you can spread it to others.
How it is spread
It’s caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is spread through contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person.
For instance one may get hepatitis B if you have sex with an infected person without using a condom or share sharp objects with an infected person just like HIV/AIDS.
Meanwhile Mr Museveni praised his government for bringing peace adding that peace and security have ensured the growth in population of Ugandans.
“When the NRM came into government, you were only 14 million, you are now 40 million,” Mr Museveni said adding that “all these are children of the NRM.”
Mr Museveni also said that his government has enabled development and modernity in terms of roads and telecommunications.
“When I was coming here, I was doing an audit of what we have done and I saw roads, telephones. Everyone has got a phone and when you are enjoying your malakwang (local delicacy in the north), you can talk to someone in Kampala,” said Mr Museveni.
