By Aggrey Baba
Just as they say, [A hungry man is an angry man]. But what about a sick person denied medicine? Uganda is facing a silent storm as access to life-saving HIV drugs dwindles, leaving thousands in fear and uncertainty.
With the suspension of U.S. funding for HIV treatment programs, many patients are struggling to get their usual refills, threatening years of progress in the fight against the virus.
For seven weeks now, patients living with HIV have been receiving reduced drug supplies, some as little as a one-month refill instead of six. Clinics once supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have shut down, and health workers are overwhelmed by the rising number of patients seeking care at the few remaining centers.
Health officials say the decision to reduce drug refills was made to manage the limited stock. Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze from the Ministry of Health explained, “We cannot give out what we do not have. Some drugs are set to expire soon, and uncertainty about future supplies forces us to ration.”
The crisis is not just about access to treatment, but survival. The shortage of preventive drugs like Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) could lead to a rise in new infections, especially among young people and sex workers who rely on them. “The situation is dangerous,” warned a health advocate.
Meanwhile, healthcare workers are also feeling the strain. Some have lost their salaries due to the funding freeze, yet they continue working as volunteers. “We are doing our best, but we are stretched thin,” said Peter Otim, a counsellor at The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO).
The long queues, the frustration, the uncertainty, Uganda’s HIV fight is at a crossroads. Without urgent intervention, years of progress could be reversed, leaving thousands at risk.
As the saying goes, “A stitch in time saves nine,” the time for action is now. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
