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Free AIDS treatment plan announced for new year

    JOHANNESBURG

    From January 2004 Uganda could start offering free antiretroviral drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS and in urgent need of treatment.

    According to health minister Jim Muhwezi, Uganda would then be the second country in Africa, after Botswana, to give free HIV/AIDS treatment to its people.

    The minister hinted that orphans, pregnant mothers and researchers would take precedence, with other groups being included over time.

    Muhwezi was quoted by the local newspaper, New Vision, as saying: "Much depends on the prices of the drugs. We are initially giving these drugs to orphans and pregnant women so that we can stop transmission to their babies. Eventually, more people will be given the drugs as the prices continue to come down."

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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