Omaswa Hails Bush
Jul 10, 2003
THE Director General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Prof. Francis Omaswa, has welcomed US President George W. Bush’s 15-billion dollar anti-AIDS plan for Africa, as being a timely intervention, reports <b>Cyprian Musoke.</b>
THE Director General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Prof. Francis Omaswa, has welcomed US President George W. Bush’s 15-billion dollar anti-AIDS plan for Africa, as being a timely intervention, reports Cyprian Musoke.
He said at a time when Uganda is targeting affording anti-retroviral drugs for all who need them, the plan will help accelerate the speed at which this can be achieved.
Bush who visits Uganda today has made a US$15b five-year anti-AIDS plan, to be financed by Congress, a key issue of his tour of Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda and Nigeria.
“The fund is a very welcome and timely intervention in as far as bringing treatment to our people is concerned. I think it is better in its direct nature, since with the Global HIV/AIDS fund, we compete with a lot of other countries in accessing the money,†Omaswa said. He said manufacturers of AIDS drugs should have a human face, and not retract on their stance on lifting patents on generic brands. “We are among the countries importing generic drugs. The public position is that manufacturers should have a human face. We are looking at accelerating the speed at which more people can be brought on board. All those who need them (drugs) should get them, such that in a year’s time, we would have drastically increased access,†Omaswa said.
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He said at a time when Uganda is targeting affording anti-retroviral drugs for all who need them, the plan will help accelerate the speed at which this can be achieved.
Bush who visits Uganda today has made a US$15b five-year anti-AIDS plan, to be financed by Congress, a key issue of his tour of Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda and Nigeria.
“The fund is a very welcome and timely intervention in as far as bringing treatment to our people is concerned. I think it is better in its direct nature, since with the Global HIV/AIDS fund, we compete with a lot of other countries in accessing the money,†Omaswa said. He said manufacturers of AIDS drugs should have a human face, and not retract on their stance on lifting patents on generic brands. “We are among the countries importing generic drugs. The public position is that manufacturers should have a human face. We are looking at accelerating the speed at which more people can be brought on board. All those who need them (drugs) should get them, such that in a year’s time, we would have drastically increased access,†Omaswa said.
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