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The Japanese embassy in Uganda has committed to supporting all efforts geared at ending HIV and AIDS on top of supporting the children orphaned by the virus.

The commitment was made by Japanese embassy in Uganda deputy head of mission Tomotaka Yoshimura during the celebrations to commemorate World AIDS Day at Ashinaga Uganda in Nansana, Wakiso district on Friday.

During the commemoration, Tomotaka said the Japanese government is ready to co-operate with other stakeholders to ensure that HIV and AIDS is suppressed in Uganda through different support.

“The government of Japan is co-operating with international society and United Nations to prevent HIV, together with UN families and organisations, we encourage prevention and support to the damage of AIDS. It is important for us to participant in the Ashinaga Uganda Japan festival, where we also encourage prevention and support actions towards the end of HIV and AIDS,” he said.

He added that the Japanese embassy will continue to cooperate with the Uganda government and international community to pursue the occasion and action to end the epidemic.

Reminder about the virus

Ashinaga Uganda Kokoro-Juku (“Hearts Academy”) assistant director Christine Nalubowa said celebrating and commemorating World AIDS Day is important because it is a reminder of the different ways people get the virus and also give information to the young teenagers and the community to help people know how to prevent it.

“If they need support after getting HIV, they should know where to go for information and how best they can celebrate the day through providing enough information by the different entities, organisations, hospitals, to the different people of different age groups,” she said.

This she believes will help them get to know and also evaluate the impact of HIV and AIDS to enhance improvement in other years' celebrations.

She said Ashinaga Uganda works with children orphaned by HIV and AIDS including providing emotional support to positive children and their guardians in addition to conducting gatherings to speak about how to be careful and avoid HIV/AIDS.

Ashinaga Uganda is a Japanese Organisation which provides financial support and emotional care to young people around the world who have lost either one or both parents. With a history of more than 55 years, the organisation's support has enabled more than 110,000 orphaned students to gain access to higher education.

Diana Namakula, the assistant director Ashinaga Uganda Rainbow House, said remembering the late guardians was crucial since taking care of orphans is one of the mandates of the organisation.

“This day has been beneficial to all the children we are taking care of because they can remember their parents who showered them with love but are currently nonexistent,” she said.

Namakula decried the high rate of school dropout of children in Nansana saying the majority have turned up to be street children.

“We have decided to take on such children and ensure that they continue with their education until they complete,” she said.

Ashinaga lauded

James Baba the former Ambassador of Uganda to Japan currently the Member of Parliament for Koboko county greeting some of the international students. (Photo by Agnes Nantambi)

James Baba, the former ambassador of Uganda to Japan and currently Koboko County Member of Parliament, lauded Ashinaga for the great work done saying it has helped many Ugandans access the top universities around the world.

“Uganda has benefitted from a great deal from Ashinaga Ugandan, we initiated their coming here where I was their ambassador in Japan and today, they are sending over 20 orphaned students to top universities around the world annually,” he said.

Baba implored the young people to focus on their studies rather than 'looking for HIV and AIDS'.