AIDS efforts not hampered by Global Fund grant suspension

UGANDA: AIDS efforts not hampered by Global Fund grant suspension

JOHANNESBURG, 29 Aug 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - Uganda's health ministry says its rollout of anti-AIDS drugs and condoms will not be hampered by the Global AIDS Fund's recent decision to halt pledges to the east African country.

The Fund announced its suspension of five grants, worth more than US $200 million, last week, after an audit by business services firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers found evidence of "serious mismanagement".

According to Ugandan Health Minister Jim Muhwezi, although the suspension was "unfair" because of inadequate advance notice, it was not serious.

The local New Vision newspaper quoted Muhwezi as saying, "The public and HIV-positive patients should not be alarmed over the suspension of these grants ... [it] is temporary and, in the meantime, the supply of antiretrovirals and condoms will not be halted."

[ENDS]


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