UNAIDS welcomes Ugandan President's launch of massive HIV prevention and treatment campaign
President encourages Ugandans
to take an HIV test
GENEVA, 8 November 2013 - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) congratulates the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni and the First Lady Janet Kaguta Museveni for their renewed commitment to the HIV response.
In a bid to encourage more Ugandan citizens to know their HIV status, President Museveni took an HIV test at the Kiswa Health Centre
in Kampala, Uganda in front of government officials, reporters and community members.
"President Museveni and First Lady Museveni are leading by example. I am sure their bold leadership will propel Uganda back to the
forefront of the world AIDS response," said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé who recently visited Uganda and met with the
President and the First Lady.
At the event, the President urged all Ugandans to know their HIV status and to access HIV testing and counseling. He stated that
anyone living with HIV would receive a package of care, treatment and support. President Museveni also called on the public to
avoid risky sexual behaviour.
The new campaign aims to reach 15 million people by the end of 2014. In November, the Ugandan government reported that
577,000 people living with HIV were accessing life-saving treatment. As part of the new campaign authorities plan to
provide antiretroviral treatment to an additional 240,000 people living with HIV by 2014.
Several Ugandan ministers, senior government officials, members of parliament, cultural and religious leaders, development partners,
pregnant women and their partners also took part in the HIV testing event with the President.
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UNAIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV
infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations-UNHCR, UNICEF,
WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank-and works closely with global and national partners
to maximize results for the AIDS response. Learn more at unaids.org and
connect with us on Facebook and Twitter .
SOURCE: UNAIDS
Contact:
UNAIDS Geneva
Saya Oka
tel. +41 22 791 1552
okas@unaids.org
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