By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: The Ugandan HIV/AIDS community is reeling from the recent decision by the US government to freeze funding for global HIV programs, including those in Uganda. The move has left thousands of people living with HIV in limbo, unsure of how they will access life-saving treatment and care.
According to Grace Nayiga, Executive Director of the Uganda Network on Law, Ethics, and HIV/AIDS (UGANET), the funding freeze has caused widespread disruption to HIV services in Uganda.
Nayiga emphasized that the funding freeze has not only affected HIV services but also other health programs. “We are talking about a comprehensive approach to healthcare, including HIV, TB, malaria, maternal newborn health, child health, and mental health issues,” Nayiga said.
Flavia Kyomukama, Executive Director of the National Forum of People Living with HIV/AIDS Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU), echoed Nayiga’s concerns highlighting the devastating impact of the funding freeze on Uganda’s HIV/AIDS response. “We are talking about 1.4 million people living with HIV in Uganda, who are now at risk of losing access to treatment and care,” Kyomukama said.
“This is not just a numbers game; these are real people who will suffer and die if they do not receive the treatment and care they need.”
The funding freeze has also had a significant impact on the livelihoods of community health workers, many of whom have been laid off or are facing reduced hours and pay. “We are talking about thousands of community health workers who have been affected by this funding freeze,” said Kenneth Mwehonge, Executive Director of the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda).
Mwehonge emphasized that the funding freeze has not only affected HIV services but also the broader health sector and the economy as a whole. “This is not just about HIV; this is about the broader health sector and the economy as a whole,” Mwehonge said.
Reverend Canon Professor Gideon Byamugisha, Founder of the International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or personally affected by HIV/AIDS (INERELA+), called on the US government to reconsider its decision and to prioritize the lives and well-being of people living with HIV.
“We are not just talking about statistics; we are talking about real people who are suffering and dying,” Byamugisha said. “We urge the US government to show compassion and to restore funding for these critical programs.”
Byamugisha also called on the Ugandan government to prioritize domestic funding for HIV programs and to ensure that these programs are sustainable and effective. “We urge the government to prioritize domestic funding for HIV programs and to ensure that these programs are sustainable and effective,” Byamugisha said.
The Ugandan government has come under criticism for its response to the funding freeze. While the government has promised to prioritize domestic funding for HIV programs, many are skeptical about its ability to fill the funding gap left by the US government.
“We urge the government to prioritize domestic funding for HIV programs and to ensure that these programs are sustainable and effective,” Nayiga said. “We also urge the government to engage with the US government and other international partners to find a solution to this crisis.”
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the lives and well-being of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV hang in the balance. The US government’s funding freeze has created a crisis that requires immediate attention and action.