Monday, June 9, 2008

Use Funds Properly - Aids Activists

This article was in the New Vision. I was tempted to edit it, but why should I? These things were said at the conference we 'stormed'. [I do love that word. Stormed... Brings into mind paratroops, and helicopters and the noise and sound of battle!]

Use Funds Properly - Aids Activists

New Vision (Kampala)

4 June 2008

Posted to the web 5 June 2008

Barbara Among

Kampala

REDIRECT funding to strategies that have proven most effective in the fight against HIV/AIDS, activists told governments yesterday. This was during the Global HIV/AIDS implementers' meeting in Kampala.

They also want policy makers to cater for the vulnerable groups so as to win the war against the pandemic.

Too much funding is being wasted on ineffective strategies and ignoring vulnerable groups such as children, prisoners, sex workers, discordant couples, drug users and gays, they observed.

They cited the effective strategies as condoms use, male circumcision and a reduction in the number of sexual partners for specific groups.

It was also noted that in many countries, including Uganda, gays were persecuted and denied access to treatment.

"In Egypt, 4,000 men have been executed since 1979," said World Bank consultant David Wilson.

Agnes Binagwaho from the Rwanda National Aids Commission said they did not have a programme for gays since they were not considered full citizens.

She called for better child-centred interventions, treatment, counselling, care and support.

Findings show that in recent years, there has been significant progress in reducing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

"But for every two people starting treatment, another five are newly infected with the virus."

There is also need to involve people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in the policymaking process, it was stated.

The conference is sponsored by the Global Fund, UNAIDS, UNICEF, World Bank, World Health Organisation, Global Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

4 comments:

spiralx said...

Agnes Binga-WAH-ho needs a good slap, doesn't she. Who is she to decide who is a "full" citizen or not? Rwanda is still in trauma, I realise, but they're not helping themselves spouting rubbish like that.

Anonymous said...

It still comes back to what I've often said about the calibre of people in positions of leadership on our continent. They are adept at diseminating misinformation to mislead and disinform the public. You shouldn't be surprised to hear that many Rwandans actually believing this woman will come to the conclusion that there are "full" and "not so full" citizens of their country. And this garbage comes from a representative of the country's Nation AIDS Commission.

spiralx said...

I've sent an email last night to the Rwandan National AIDS Commission querying this quote, and asking them to tell me it isn't true.

You may like to do the same:

Commission Nationale de Lutte contre le SIDA(C.N.L.S)

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Tel.:(00250)503980

Fax:(00250)503979

E-mail:cnls@rwanda1.com

B.P. 7162 Kigali-Rwanda

spiralx said...
This comment has been removed by the author.

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