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Cold reception for HIV beauty contest

    JOHANNESBURG

    A beauty pageant aimed at increasing HIV/AIDS awareness and countering stigma in Uganda has received a cold reception from the government.

    The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) halted the 'Miss HIV' contest, set to take place in the capital Kampala at the weekend, saying there were other ways of fostering acceptance of people living with HIV/AIDS.

    UAC director-general Kihumuro Apuuli declared in the local New Vision newspaper: "We must desist from the notion of copying ideas from other countries, such as Botswana, where such competitions are being held."

    Botswana, which has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, has been hosting the pageant since 2003, sponsored by the UN and Barclays Bank, among others.

    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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