|
Uganda Offers Free AIDS Drugs to Patients
13 June 2004
by Anai Rhoads
 E-mail this article
AnaiRhoads.org - Uganda Health Minister Jim Muhwezi announced Tuesday that the country will provide AIDS patients access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). The programme will supply the drugs free-of-charge to those who are unable to pay for it.
A total of 26 government-run medical centres will begin distributing ARVs, with more centres expected to join in the upcoming weeks. The currently approved centres will have a financial backing of 1.3 million dollars, courtesy of the World Bank. The centres expected to follow, will have 1.7 million dollars available to meet their needs.
Over the next five years, the Global Fund will assist with an additional 70 million dollars, so that the programme continues to benefit the people of Uganda.
The east African nation had seen a sharp increase of HIV/AIDS cases in the last two decades. Well over a million citizens have died from AIDS since the syndrome began making its rounds in the country. The percentage of new cases has greatly reduced in the last year due to proactive measures by the government.
©2004 AnaiRhoads.org Reproduction must be authorised in writing only, and altering the
material and this copyright is prohibited and protected by international law.
Back
| 
