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Activists angered by lack of AIDS drugs

    JOHANNESBURG

    The Ugandan government has been criticised by AIDS activists for failing to provide antiretroviral medication.

    Rubaramira Ruranga, from the National Guidance and Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda, said the government had promised to provide anti-AIDS drugs to 150,000 people in 2003, but only 15,000 had received them.

    Ruranga was quoted by a local newspaper, The Monitor, as saying: "It [government] talks about free medication for people with HIV/AIDS, but where is it? You cannot lead people who are dying tomorrow and think you are a leader. It is cheaper to provide drugs instead of waiting for 80 percent of hospital beds to be filled with AIDS patients."

    It is estimated that 1.1 million Ugandan adults aged between 15 and 49 are living with HIV/AIDS.

    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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