The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, William W. Popp, has reaffirmed support for the widespread availability and affordability of long-term injectable Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ARV) in the country. He pledged that the U.S. is committed to strengthening partnerships in Uganda to advance the fight against the HIV epidemic.
Ambassador Popp made this commitment during a tour of the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) facilities on Tuesday. RHSP is one of Uganda’s pioneering HIV research and healthcare service delivery organizations, largely funded by the United States.
In addition to continued support for research activities and the provision of daily oral ARVs, the U.S. Ambassador announced plans to support Uganda in making the new HIV prevention and treatment product available locally. Last year, Uganda introduced the injectable ARV Cabotegravir as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention and treatment, but its usage remains limited due to availability challenges.
Ambassador Popp urged HIV prevention and treatment service providers to intensify their efforts, especially among key populations where prevalence remains high. He emphasized that, while awaiting the new product, efforts should not be relaxed.
The HIV status report from the Uganda AIDS Commission indicates a decrease in the general HIV prevalence to 5.1%. However, the burden of infections remains significant among teenagers and youth, who now account for 70% of the 5,000 new cases registered weekly.
Ambassador Popp stressed the need for heightened youth-specific HIV prevention interventions to sustain the country’s progress and aspirations.
Dr. Fred Kigozi, the Executive Director of the Rakai Health Sciences Program, praised the significance of the intramuscular injectable long-term HIV prevention and treatment solution. He expressed hope that once made more accessible, it will simplify HIV management in Uganda.
Dr. Kigozi highlighted that the U.S. has provided substantial support to its activities since 1988, enabling the organization to make significant impacts in HIV research and management both nationally and internationally. He noted that the Ambassador’s pledge of continued support is a valuable opportunity for the organization to expand its services and work towards eliminating the HIV burden.
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