Dr. Kigozi rallies Ugandans on HIV and AIDS

HEALTH    HIV/AIDS

Professor Margaret Kigozi has entreated Ugandans to support the private sector foundation's one dollar initiative, a fund established primarily to raise funds to run HIV and AIDS-related programmes in the country.

Dr. Kigozi said although lesser people are reportedly dying from HIV and AIDS infection, the fight against the killer disease is not yet over.

She said the disease has negatively impacted the private sector, whose profitability is driven by consumption from the general public.

"If one of our customers is sick, it means they can't adequately consume our products, and we stand to lose. Yet, if we don't make profit, the country loses through would be, but unpaid taxes," she said.

This was during the launch of the second One Dollar Initiative walk and run, slated for December 08, 2018 in Kampala.

According to Kigozi, the One Dollar Initiative encourages every Ugandan to make a minimum voluntary contribution of one dollar (sh3, 698) per year, towards HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment.

The ODI walk and run is one of the platforms through which the private sector hopes to raise funds and awareness towards the fight against HIV &AIDS.

Kigozi said the second walk/ run will go under the Slogan "until It's over", flagged by the Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga.

"We expect the runners to be flagged off by the Katikiro at 8.00 am from UMA showground, Lugogo, and then go all the way to Naguru Hospital via the Lugogo bypass. They will then go through the Kololo Terrace, Airtel Clock tower at Jinja road, spear motors, Ntinda II Road, to Katalima road and back to UMA. The distance covered will be 10 Km taking about 1.30hrs," she said.

Alluding to the UNAIDS Report 2019, Kigozi said approximately 1.4 million people including children and adults, are currently living with HIV, with about 1,000 new infections per week.

Of these, she said, about 1.1million are on anti-retroviral treatment, a lifelong expensive treatment, that is hitherto paid for by government and development partners.

She said the increasing number of people on treatment, and the need to prevent new infections calls for a sustainable domestic funding mechanism.

"It is time we started looking out for ourselves because over-dependence on partners could be costly. For instance, what would happen to all these people if the development partners decided to pull out? We need to raise funds so that we are not surprised unnecessarily," she said.

The Uganda Manufacturers' Association head of human capital, Clare Kirungi said without increased effort, more people will continue getting infected.

"Therefore, as manufacturers, we make an appeal to all Ugandans to support this cause, and those in the consent age to make better choices regarding their sexuality," she said.

The UNAIDS presidential fast -track advisor, Akhmedov Komiljon said without concerted effort, it would be difficult to effectively fight HIV and AIDS.

He said the initiative is the first of its kind, driven by the private sector with the aim of improving life and business in addition to supplementing governments and donor efforts to social-economic development. 

IGG reports have never been discussed on the floor of parliament, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has said adding that parliament needs to improve on this.

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