Govt To Offer Free AIDS Drugs Nationwide

By Charles WendoThe Minister of Health, Jim Muhwezi, yesterday announced a maiden plan to provide free anti-retroviral treatment for more than 2,000 AIDS patients countrywide.Muhwezi said the initiative targets needy patients who cannot afford the treatment.He said this at the AIDS conference for parliamentarians, cultural and religious leaders at the Kampala International Conference Centre.He said the programme would cost $9m over the next three years.The money is expected from the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.This is the first time the Government is announcing a plan to provide free anti-retroviral treatment.So far about 10,000 Ugandans are privately buying the drugs at at least sh70,000 per month.According to the plan, communities in every sub-county will select two needy patients to benefit from the free treatment.He said the the Mildmay Centre will receive drugs for 200 children suffering from AIDS.The AIDS Support Organisation and the Mulago-based Academic Alliance for AIDS training and treatment will each receive 300 doses. The programme will also care for 100 health workers.Muhwezi said, “We believe anti-retroviral drugs can lead to great improvements in the quality of life of AIDS patients.”Ends