Cuba VP praises Uganda over Luzira ARV plant

PIC: John Kamili(R), Regulatory Affairs Manager shows Salvador Valdez Mesa (Second R) Vice President of the Republic of Cuba around Cipla premises on October 6, 2016 as Emmanuel Katongole(Second L) the Executive Chairman Cipla looks on. Photos by Roderick Ahimbazwe

After touring the Luzira based Cipla Quality Chemicals Ltd, Cuban Vice-President, Salvador Valdes Mesa commended Uganda for its technological advancement.

After inquiring about the cost of setting up the plant that produces both ARVs for people living with HIV/AIDs and anti-malarias, Salvador looked in disbelief when the executive chairman of the Plant, Emanuel Katongole, told him that the plant was worth $52m (sh177b).

 
Salvado, who has been in Uganda to revamp the over 40-year-old relationship between the two countries, visited the company on Thursday together with a delegation from his country.

Katongole commended Cuba for exposing the danger of HIV/AIDs among Ugandan soldiers in the 1980s.  

"Those days when HIV/AIDs was still a big problem, Uganda sent her soldiers to Cuba for training and some who tested positive were sent back," Katongole said.

He noted that after sending the soldiers back in 1980s, Cuba advised Uganda on the way forward and that since then the country has never looked back.

 
"Based on the advice Cuba gave us, we have been on the top of the efforts to fight HIV/AIDs on the globe," Katongole said.

Salvado said his country has made a great break-through in manufacturing a number of highly effective drugs including those that help fight diabetes and pledged to work with Uganda in building the latter's health sector.