Govt to facilitate AIDS victims

GOVERNMENT will facilitate victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic who publically declare their status, state minister for planning Mr. Isaac Musumba has said, reports Abubaker Mukose. “The Government realises the virtue of victims who come out in the open to declare that they have AIDS. Such people are community mobilisers whose efforts cannot be undermined. Therefore, we feel it is a good gesture that could be emulated by others if we facilitated them,” Musumba said. He was on Saturday officiating at the World AIDS Day ceremony at Jinja, held at Butagaya sub-county headquarters. Musumba said people living with HIV/Aids need affirmative action because their role in the community has helped to control the disease. He was flanked by the Jinja Resident district Commissioner, Mr. Deo Kayongo and Jinja woman MP Ruth Tuma, Musumba advised the people to take blood tests to determine their HIV status. “By knowing your HIV status, it enables you to plan for your family and also avoid further re-infection,” he said. Musumba said following the World Trade Organisation’s recent clearance allowing the poor and HIV/AIDS hit countries to manufacture HIV drugs, Uganda was considering to avail them to the victims at affordable prices. The drugs prolong the life span of an HIV/AIDS patient. Kayongo advised Ugandans to save and invest if they are to live longer. “You cannot survive unless you know how to save money because if you acquire HIV/AIDS, it will be your money to determine how long you will leave if you are able to pay for treatment,” Kayongo said.