Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - August 27, 2009
Francis Kagolo
Dr. Zainab Akol said the ministry procured ARVs worth sh60b this month.
This is in addition to the 30 tonnes the ministry received at the beginning of August from the Global Fund project.
"We have enough ARVs to cater for both the continuing consumers and new ones," Akol said, adding that the National Medical Stores was distributing the drugs.
She was speaking at a graduation ceremony at Mildmay Uganda, where 24 health workers received diplomas in HIV/AIDS Care and Management on Wednesday.
The HIV/AIDS infection rate currently stands at 8.5% in Kampala and is much higher in districts like Gulu, according to the latest report by the Uganda AIDS Commission.
Currently, over 350,000 Ugandans depend on ARVS, but the number is said to increase every year.
The public was awed by reports in June and July that out of the 35,000 people who needed treatment, only about 170,000 were getting drugs.
Akol explained that the shortage arose because of the transition from the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR I) of George Bush to Barack Obama's PEPFAR II.
"We will get $21m (about sh43.4b) in the next one year from the Global Fund. This will enable us buy ARVs," she said, adding that the drugs are procured on a quarterly basis to prevent them from expiring.
Under PEPFAR, Uganda received $236.6m in 2007 and $283.6m in 2008. This is expected to increase this financial year to support a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programme.
Akol commended Mildmay for complementing the Government's effort in preventing the epidemic.
The centre takes care of 20,000 HIV-positive people, most of whom are children, according to spokesperson Rosemary Mbabazi.
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