| AIDS Patients' Numbers Rise globally-Radio Simba 2/12/2002 An Aids victim is helped into a bath tub The number of people living with the AIDS virus has shot up to 45 million people in the world in the year 2002 from 40 million people in the year 2001. This was revealed by the Director General of the Uganda Aids Commission Dr. David Kihumuro Apuuli who was quoting the New Global Statistics on the Aids epidemic report released at the end of November. Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli who was officiating as Chief Guest at the World Aids Day celebrations at Namayumba Sub-County Wakiso District said 3.5 million of the 5 million increase is in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli far right with other mayors of different cities and towns after the launching of the mayors' organisation to fight Aids at the Constitutional Square. Kampala Mayor John Ssebaana Kizito is third from right, next to Dr. Apuuli is the PS Ministry of Local Government. Dr. Apuuli says this increase can be attributed to the discrimination of HIV/AIDS patients and the stigma against them in the world. He challenged the public to follow this year�s World Aids theme and fight stigma and the discrimination Aids patients. Dr. Apuuli Kihumuro revealed that under the Global Fund 12 million US dollars has been earmarked for the purchase of AIDS drugs. He adds that Ministry of Health was already seeking 3 million US dollars to buy anti-retroviral drugs. Speaking at the same World Aids Day celebrations the Wakiso District Secretary for Health Beatrice Mukasa who represented the Wakiso district Chairperson urged people to let people living with the HIV/AI DS virus enjoy their constitutional rights of Association and non-discrimination. She says this would help in ending the AIDS scourge. World celebrates World Aids Day In a related development On Sunday 1st December 2002 the world over celebrated the 14th World Aids Day. The world commemorated the day with an aim to create increased awareness in different aspects of the epidemic through specific themes. The global theme for the two-year World Aids campaign 2002/2003 is �Stigma and Discrimination� which rotates around human rights issues. Aids patients such as these are often discriminated Globally stigma and discrimination are recognised as the major obstacles to successful HIV/AIDS interventions. Uganda is recognised as a pioneer in breaking the silence and promoting openness about HIV/AIDS in the entire Sub-Saharan resulting from the commitment and vigorous campaigns of the President himself. This year the campaign and observance of the World Aids Day are decentralised, where by in some parts of the country celebrations began on 29th November 2002. In this regard all districts in collaboration with their partners will carry out the relevant district based activities and commemorate the Day on Sunday or on any other day of their choice. Scepticism about Prevalence rate However despite Uganda�s international recognition for its success in curbing AIDS prevalence from over 35% in the 1980s to less than 6% today, some Aids activists say that the figure could not be true since Uganda still ranks highest in teenage pregnancies, which confirms unprotected youth. The Coordinator of the network of people living with HIV/ AIDS Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga has himself lived with the virus for almost 20 years and cautions Ugandans to have protected sex in order to protect themselves from the deadly HIV/AIDS virus. The celebrations are expected to hit a climax on Sunday evening at Hotel Africana with a concert and a Photo exhibition of Musicians and a few HIV/AIDS works. |
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