The German Ambassador Duexmann Dietclaws has called for joint efforts in the fight against HIV and Aids if lives are to be saved.
While speaking at Soroti Municipal Council during an HIV/Aids workplace policy launch, Duexmann urged various sectors to intervene in the fight against HIV and Aids in the country.
“The fight against HIV/Aids should not be looked at as a one man’s battle but it is a joint fight if the dangerous disease is to be kicked off the country” he said.
He said over one million people died of Aids related illnesses during the early 1980s but a lot has been done to make sure that lives are saved such as antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and home based counseling and testing.
“More needs to be done in this fight. These people who have accepted to live positively should not be discriminated as they also deserve the same rights as those who are not affected,” he added.
According to Duexmann, the government of Uganda has done a lot in the fight and reduction on HIV infection rates and death rates. He commended the country for its successful response to HIV saying its spread has reduced tremendously from about 80 percent to 60 percent.
However, he said the struggle must continue to see that its spread reduces to the lower levels.
He urged people to always go for voluntary counseling and testing, and urged leaders to avoid discriminating against and stigmatizing those living positively.
