Text of H. E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Speech on AIDS at the International Conference on AIDS

International Conference on AIDS And STDs ^ | 12/07/2004 | Yoweri Museveni

[DBrow]

This is a link to the 26 page PDF Document, a bit too long to post completely.

Excerpt:

HIV/AIDS is the biggest challenge to mankind in the 21 st century only comparable to the Bubonic plague of the middle ages. In order to avert more deaths and suffering from this insidious viral infection leaders of nations must stand resolute with total commitment to lead the fight and galvanize the entire efforts of communities and nations to face the challenge. Although a global problem, more than 90% of HIV infections occur in developing countries like Uganda. The morbidity and mortality figures due to HIV/AIDS are well known to all of you; they are indeed staggering and the world is nowhere near controlling this rampaging infection. In my message this morning during this XV International AIDS Conference, let me highlight what happened in Uganda over the last two decades. Many countries in the world want to know how my country faced the challenge. (snip...)

AIDS needed a social vaccine We concluded that since transmission was mainly behavioral, the situation was not that bleak if only we could inform and mobilize our people as we had done during the liberation struggle. We had to transmit to our people the conviction that behaviour change and therefore control of the epidemic was an individual responsibility and a patriotic duty and within their individual means. In our fighting corner was a resilient population and a committed leadership with years of fire-tested experience in mobilising our people to overcome obstacles at great odds and with minimal resources.(snip...)

The social /economic impact of AIDS As HIV infection progresses to AIDS, there is an increase in total hospitalization and loss of productivity, with further loss of family savings through seeking medical care. Other effects are:

•Reduction in life expectancy to 38% yrs from 45 yrs before AIDS.

•Decrease in household disposable income by 80% in 2/3 of the families where a father dies.

•Increased orphanhood.

•Decreased labour force leading to food insecurity

•Increased funeral expenses

•Uganda loses currently loses 0.9% of its GDP per annum due to AIDS. Overall in sub-Saharan Africa a sero-prevalence of more than 20% leads to a fall of 2 - 4% in the GDP.

•If nothing is done, the education sector is likely to be worst affected due to decline in school enrollment if teachers die and children miss class to care for their sick parents.

[DBrow]

There are many news articles about Museveni's speech but it was hard to track down a transcript. Once I found it, I thought it only natural to share with you.

[twas]

"Although a global problem, more than 90% of HIV infections occur in developing countries like Uganda."

A couple years ago, Uganda was being praised for its success in combating AIDS. Uganda was supposed to be the shinning example of 'how to get AIDS education right in Africa'.

What is the truth?

[DBrow]

I don't see an inconsistency. The text says "like Uganda" so it includes other African countries, and then the speech describes how things got better.

[megatherium]

If memory serves, there are seven countries in Africa with adult HIV infection rates of 20% or higher. Uganda had this kind of infection rate a decade ago but now it's down to 6%. Still very high but a big improvement; they're not nearly as bad off as neighboring countries.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

The good news for those with the virus is that while only 15 years
ago the teaching was that viruses being intra- cellular organisms no
drug could kill any virus without killing the patient, but coinciding
with the advent of HIV, molecular science had already advanced to
the stage where scientists were unraveling the secrets of the DNA
molecule.

Some of us were sure it would be a matter of time before
an effective drug would be discovered. It was therefore a matter of
time before an effective drug became available. As you all know, we
now have more than 20 drugs effective against HIV to the extent of
having no detectable virus in individuals. To cause a complete cure
all that is remaining is to get a drug that can cross to those sites such
as the brain and the glands where HIV has taken refuge.

I am
confident this will happen sooner than later so that those suffering
are not condemned to taking medication for life.

When all is said, even if an effective drug and vaccine are announced
at this conference, the legacy of AIDS will be with us for generations
to come as we still have the orphans to care for. Looking at our past
world experience with diseases like tuberculosis which have had
effective treatments for ages, or gonorrhoea and syphilis whereby
one shot of penicillin used to cure, and yet we have hundreds of
thousands with the infections around the world today, drugs as a
magic bullet will never be the only solution.


Individual behaviour and personal responsibility, based on
knowledge, will be our best protection against AIDS and other future
epidemics.

In Uganda we managed to bring the HIV sero-prevalence
from 18.6% to 6.1% using just a social vaccine, a reduction close to
70%.

I am told by the medical scientists that a medical vaccine with
80% efficacy is considered a very good vaccine.

I thank you.


well there ya go AT THE VERY END personal responsibility,Individual behaviour Well who'd a thunk it it took 26 pages to tell us what The President and Rush and Savage have been telling them for years


Now if we can get the Liberals to look at it maybe we can save BILLIONS

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!