By:Mpuuga Mathias (MP)
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.
It is that time of the year when the World remembers and honours the loved ones that we’ve lost to the AIDS scourge as well as those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The World commemorates this year’s World AIDS under the theme; *Let Communities Lead*, which is a call on leaders at different levels to take action and support the communities to take a lead role in efforts directed at ending HIV by 2030. It is also a call upon the citizenry to take the lead in activism to push the government to ensure improved access to HIV/AIDS services such as testing and counselling, treatment and support for those infected and affected by AIDS.
Aware that the country is facing a threat of the donor community cutting funding for the HIV/AIDS care and treatment, we appeal to the patients to ensure strict adherence to the Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to avoid the risk of resistance to the drugs. We can’t afford to have anyone developing resistance to existing line of ART since the next drug regimen is too expensive. We may not afford it as country given the high levels of poverty in the community and corruption at the government level.
As we appeal to the patients to adhere to ART, we urge the National Medical Stores (NMS) to ensure timely and adequate supply of ARVs to the AIDS treatment centres.
We also reiterate our call on the government to prioritize reducing the distance between health centres and the community to improve access to HIV/AIDS care services among the rural population.
For God and My Country.
