Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - December 1, 2008
Jeff Lule
The water and environment minister, Maria Mutagamba, said her ministry was committed to providing clean and safe water to patients.
She said the ministry had introduced a water and sanitation sector strategy aimed at promoting hygiene among infected people.
The minister's message was contained in a speech read by the acting director of water and development, Eng. Richard Cong. This was at the World AIDS Day celebrations at Luzira Secondary School in Kampala yesterday.
The Germany Development Cooperation technical advisor, Hermann Plumm, said poor sanitation triggered opportunistic infections and diseases in people living with the disease.
"HIV patients are vulnerable because their immune system is compromised by the virus," he said.
The ministry's principle assistant secretary, Emmanuel Olauna, said merely distributing drugs to the infected people was not enough, adding that good hygiene protected caretakers from contracting the virus from patients.
"About 80% of spring water in Kampala is contaminated with feaces," he said.
Olauna commended Plan Uganda, for assisting the Government to address sanitation challenges.
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