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.
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.
