21 May 2001
Kampala — The Government will soon start providing free anti- retroviral drugs to expectant mothers with HIV/AIDS, health minister Crispus Kiyonga said yesterday.
Geoffrey Kamali reports that this is expected to reduce the mother- child infection rate by about 32% of 35,000 babies born with HIV/ADS annually.
Over l.9 million babies are born in Uganda, according to the health ministry statistics.
"But patients (pregnant mothers) will have to be monitored on a regular basis to improve their immunity," Kiyonga, represented by the Commissioner for Clinical and Medical Services, Dr. Sam Zaramba, said.
He was speaking at the 18th International AIDS Candlelight memorial day at the Constitutional Square.
Bunyoro King Gafabusa Agutamba Iguru was the chief guest.
The event, under the theme, One Voice, Many Faces... United for Life," was preceded by an overnight bonfire vigil led by the Rev. Fr. Wilfred Mwesigye.
It also marked the launch of the private sector initiative under the auspices of the Uganda Business Council on HIV/AIDs (UBCOA).
Dignitaries included UNICEF country director Michel Sidibe, Kampala Mayor Sebaana Kizito, Uganda AIDs Commission chairman retired Bishop Barnabas Halem'Imaana.
Others were the Uganda Aids Commission director Kihumuro Apuuli and Standard Chartered Bank chief Etemesi, UBCOA chairman.
"Now that the private sector has joined us, we will bring anti- retroviral drug companies so that more people can access the drugs," Kiyonga said.
More pregnant mothers will now be expected to take advantage of the free service and go for voluntary HIV testing, Kiyonga said.
Halem'Imaana decried the low political will at lower levels of government. He said the HIV/AIDs rate stands at 8.3%, down from 35% in 1990.
Sidibe said silence is no longer acceptable.
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