US donates $8M in HIV/AIDS drugs to Uganda

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Uganda received an $8 million donation of HIV/AIDS drugs from the US to faith-based medical facilities, officials said Tuesday.

The US donated the consignment through its development agency, USAID, under a newly launched five-year program that is for the private not-for-profit HIV commodity procurement activity that will be run by joint medical stores.

Speaking at the launch of the $295 million program, USAID mission director Richard Nelson said Uganda needs to have in place improved procurement and supply chains for effective drug delivery to beneficiaries if the lives of Ugandans are to be improved.

State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties Hanifah Kawoya thanked the US for its continued support to Uganda’s health sector.

''The drugs given to us by USA have supplemented government’s efforts to scale down new infections among the population. Most of the people living with HIV/AIDS are going to benefit from this donation,” she said.

Executive Director Joint Medical Stores Dr. Bildard Baguma, confirmed the receipt of the consignment. “They are going to be supplied to faith-based medical facilities currently running HIV/AIDS programs to help provide drugs to HIV patients,” said Baguma.

The Health Ministry said there are 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda who are under treatment.

The prevalence of the disease among those who are 15- - 65 year-olds is 6.2%. Females are at 7.6% and males 4.75%.

Last year 23,000 died from the disease.