Widen health aid, Muhwezi tells US
Nov 08, 2002
HEALTH minister Jim Muhwezi has asked the US government to broaden its funding of health programmes to include treatment of HIV/AIDS.
By Charles Ariko
HEALTH minister Jim Muhwezi has asked the US government to broaden its funding of health programmes to include treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Muhwezi said while the US had provided a lot of assistance towards the prevention of diseases such as Aids, there was need to focus on the treatment of those already affected.
Muhwezi was yesterday meeting the US State Department’s Special Representative for HIV/AIDS, Dr. Jack Chow, at the ministry headquarters in Kampala.
Chow, who is also the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Health and Science, was here to visit several health projects supported by the US government.
“We thank the US for the support. We also request that our applications for funds from the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria be approved to enable us implement our programmes,†Muhwezi said.
The more the money delays in the World Bank, the more the people continue dying,†he said.
Chow’s visit to Uganda was to learn how HIV/AIDS mother to child transmission could be prevented.
A press release issued by the US Embassy said President George Bush has introduced a new international initiative aimed at reducing the number of babies born with HIV.
“The programme will improve antenatal services, expand voluntary counselling and testing for HIV, and provide drug intervention to reduce HIV transmission from an infected mother to her child,†the statement said.
“There is interest in developing short course therapies that are even more effective than single dose Nevirapine, as alternative therapies are proven to be safe,†it said, adding that they would be incorporated into the initiative.
HEALTH minister Jim Muhwezi has asked the US government to broaden its funding of health programmes to include treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Muhwezi said while the US had provided a lot of assistance towards the prevention of diseases such as Aids, there was need to focus on the treatment of those already affected.
Muhwezi was yesterday meeting the US State Department’s Special Representative for HIV/AIDS, Dr. Jack Chow, at the ministry headquarters in Kampala.
Chow, who is also the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Health and Science, was here to visit several health projects supported by the US government.
“We thank the US for the support. We also request that our applications for funds from the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria be approved to enable us implement our programmes,†Muhwezi said.
The more the money delays in the World Bank, the more the people continue dying,†he said.
Chow’s visit to Uganda was to learn how HIV/AIDS mother to child transmission could be prevented.
A press release issued by the US Embassy said President George Bush has introduced a new international initiative aimed at reducing the number of babies born with HIV.
“The programme will improve antenatal services, expand voluntary counselling and testing for HIV, and provide drug intervention to reduce HIV transmission from an infected mother to her child,†the statement said.
“There is interest in developing short course therapies that are even more effective than single dose Nevirapine, as alternative therapies are proven to be safe,†it said, adding that they would be incorporated into the initiative.