Health Minister Dr. Ruth Aceng assures AIDS patients of the availability of medicine

The Ministry of Health has assured people in Uganda who are living with HIV that they will continue receiving treatment without any interruption, even though the U.S. has stopped providing aid.

Dr. Ruth Aceng, the State Minister for Health, said the government is looking for new ways to get funds so that HIV medication remains available.

Uganda has depended on international support, especially from the U.S. through PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), to run its HIV/AIDS programs. However, after the withdrawal of this aid and the shutdown of UNAIDS operations in Uganda, people have become worried about whether life-saving medicines will still be accessible.

Dr. Aceng reassured the public that the government is fully dedicated to making sure treatment continues without any issues.

“We are engaging new funding partners and exploring internal budget adjustments to ensure no Ugandan living with HIV is left behind,” she said.

There are about 1.4 million people in Uganda living with HIV, and many of them depend on free antiretroviral therapy (ART). Losing donor support has created a big challenge, as any delay in treatment could undo the progress Uganda has made in lowering HIV-related deaths and new infections.

To deal with this issue, the Ministry of Health is working with both local and international partners and is also thinking about increasing its own funding for HIV programs.

Dr. Aceng asked patients to stay calm, saying that the government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that essential medicines remain available.

Although the loss of U.S. aid is a serious problem, the government's commitment provides hope for those affected