Uganda to look for HIV/AIDS Funds, as USA is not happy with the increasing number of infections

Submitted by sharifah about 1 year ago

HIV and AIDS has been a long epidemic in Uganda. The country, while braving its grim devastating impact, has made remarkable efforts in its prevention campaign, treatment and research which have brought hope to many.

Nevertheless, the country could now be heading for a disaster after it emerged this week that the country's major HIV/AIDS donor - the USA - is considering withdrawing its funds, citing the reason as the Government's failure to control new infections.

The Director General of Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, revealed to Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary Presidential Affairs Committee that Uganda has been asked to prepare for the exit of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Funding (PEPFAR), an initiative of the US Government.

In Uganda Anti-Retrovirals (ARVs) are funded through 3 main programmes:

• PEPFAR, which provides for 50 per cent of patients
• The Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFTAM)
• The Government of Uganda, providing ARVs for around 25,000 new patients per year

"There have been delays in the release of GFTAM funding but now we have received 4.2m US dollars for the procurement of emergency ARVs and this will alleviate the situation for the next three months" said Zainab Akol, programs manager for the Aids Control Program at the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Apuuli told the committee "About 90 percent of the donor money we receive for HIV/AIDS comes from the Americans, but they are now saying, as a country, we must take charge of our destiny".

The Parliamentary Committee heard that unless the Government prioritises HIV/AIDS prevention through increased funding towards behavioural change, the donors - especially the US Government - would be hesitant to continue funding HIV/AIDS treatment programs without any reduction in the new infections.

Dr. Apuuli said to the committe that every year, the country loses about 700,000 people due to HIV/AIDS, 130,000 get infected with HIV/AIDS and out of 300,000 Ugandans who need ARVs, only 170,000 have access. Only 21percent of adult know their HIV status.

Under the PEPFAR initiative, the US Government gives Uganda about $280 million annually and the figures presented to the committee last week showed that between 2005/2006 and 2008/2009, Uganda received over $1billion to fight HIV/AIDS.

Members of Parliament led by Livingstone Okello-Okello warned of a crisis if the US pulled out its funding: "We can't depend on foreigners to keep us alive. The Government is not bothered to provide funds for the fight against the HIV pandemic and this is dangerous".

Although Dr. Apuuli and Members of Parliament warned of a possible US withdrawal, Mr John Hoover of the US embassy in Kampala said that in 2009, PEPFAR will provide services to one million pregnant women, testing them and their new born children for HIV.

"America's commitment will not waver, despite the budget pressures caused by the Economic crisis. In 2009, we are investing $280 million in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda, and it is the intention of the US to maintain this level of funding for the foreseable future", Mr Hoover wrote.

However, to avert what appears to be a crisis, Dr Apuuli said the Government should create a Trust Fund for HIV/AIDS as is the case in other countries.

"We need to start a Trust Fund for HIV/AIDS in the country such that tomorrow when Global Fund and the US pull out , we can have a fall back position.This is what Zimbabwe and other countries are doing."

Keywords: global Fund HIV/AIDS Increased infection USA

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