Uganda Blames U.S. Policy for Harming AIDS Battle

Posted on August 30, 2005

The Uganda government is blaming the Bush administration for harming the countries battle against the deadly AIDs disease. The BBC also says Uganda is suffering from a condom shortage.

"At the moment, the government of Uganda appears to be under the influence of the American policy through the presidential initiative of emphasising abstinence far and away over condoms," he said.
He suggested US President George Bush, who launched his multi-billion dollar campaign to tackle Aids in Africa two years ago, was acting under the influence of the religious right in US.
A senior US official rejected Mr Lewis's criticism, saying the current administration supported condom use as part of a balanced programme that included prevention.
"The statements that I have heard are completely untrue and completely mischaracterise effective prevention programmes," Mark Dybul, deputy US global Aids co-ordinator told Reuters news agency.

This is not the first time the Bush administration has been accused of supporting abstinence instead of condom use. The Bush administration has also been blamed for refusing to give money to the the UN Population Fund (UNFD) which helps with education, family planning and condom use in an effort to reduce the out-of-control population growth in third world countries. A 2004 Boston Globe article has more about the Bush Administration continued refusal to give money to the UNFD. Abstinence will not help reduce birth rates. It takes education and birth control to control population growth.

HEALTH