By Culton Scovia Nakamya
As the number of internet users rises globally, the need to tap into the internet audience especially those using social media platforms is evident for health campaigns towards social transformation.
With an internet penetration rate of 24.6%, reports by Hootsuite indicate that Uganda has 6.7M social media users, with majority as youth.
This increasing online information and communication space has created platform and opportunity for continuous health campaigns like that of HIV/AIDS that have been largely possible in mainstream media, physical gatherings and entertainment; music and drama.
The Uganda Aids Commission, Ministry of health and the US-supported program PEPFAR, have over the past years used mainstream media to ask people who test positive for HIV to be enrolled on Anti-retrovirals.
In 2017, Uganda launched the presidential first track initiative, a campaign that majorly ran through mainstream media to accelerate, among others, the test and treat program and encouraging people enrolled on ART to ensure drug adherence.
Today, numerous individuals and institutions are using social media platforms to sensitize on the spread and prevention of HIV, Anti-Retroviral drug intake, elimination of stigma and system support.
“Many think it’s the end of the world yet a smile can bring a peace of mind when your viral load is suppressed. Take your ARVs for a better smile,” a message posted by a one Shamirah Nantaba on her twitter account.
The message is a reminder and an alert to those living with HIV on the importance of adhering to their ARVs intake to have their viral load suppressed.
Viral load suppression is the biggest achievement any person living with HIV can accomplish because then, they cannot transfer the virus to any other person. However, viral load suppression is a result of proper adherence to Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVS).
In the recent past, campaign messages like what Nantaba Shamirah posted could only be shared on radios, television, conferences and other enclosed platforms.
This was because of the limited communication space, public stigma around HIV/AIDS conversations and limited knowledge on what the virus/disease was to enable credible information sharing.
Uganda’s history on HIV/AIDS prevention reflects that majority of the affected people struggle with recovery because of public and self-stigma, factors that affect adherence to ARVs.
According to Uganda Aids Commission, 1.4M people are living with HIV in Uganda. However only 82% of these are enrolled on ART and only 78% of these have achieved viral load suppression.
Uganda is one of the countries struggling to hit the UNAIDs 95-95-95 target by 2030.
By 2030, It is intended to diagnose 95% of all HIV-positive people, administer ART to 95% of those identified, and ensure 95% of those treated achieve viral suppression.
Activists like Nantaba emphasize that using digital platforms to communicate ARVs adherence is long overdue. She says that digital spaces like social media have a wider reach, personalized use and timeless to message consumption.
However, Nantaba says that this opportunity emerges with challenges like social media trolls which are becoming common and spreading of messages that can easily stigmatize assertive HIV positive individuals online.
Despite the trolls and cyberbullying, campaigns like Nantaba`s are paying off. More social media users are gaining confidence to disclose their HIV statuses and carry forward positive messages encouraging others to adhere to medication and eliminate spread.
“Imagine, had I given up on my dream profession, I wouldn’t be here today. HIV has nothing on you, you can do anything you set your mind to. Dreams do come true”. Ruth Elizabeth Namutebi through her twitter account equally posted, a message of encouragement that once drugs are adhered to, all dreams can come true.
Another social media user Samie Kimberly posted “do not stop taking your ARVS because you will experience side effects like nausea, anemia, skin rash and others”.
Elizabeth Kintu an HIV activist says the use of social media to spread a message of adherence to ARVs is a great success because more people are getting online.
“We have to find people where they are. We have to use what they enjoy so we can best reach out. People now consume information more using their smart phones than mainstream media channels, this is a plus to the HIV advocacy,” says Kintu.
