NEWS: Children ask for more HIV funding

Children ask for more HIV funding

Friday, 19th June, 2009 from NEW VISION


CHILDREN n in northern Uganda have petitioned Government to increase funding for children living with HIV/AIDS and those born by mothers under the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of AIDS programme. They said many children and mothers had died because of lack of access to HIV/AIDS services in the villages. “The Government should ensure full integration of PMTCT services in the reproductive health system,” the children’s representative, Winfred Olanyo-Jok, said. The children presented a memorandum to the secretary for community services and children’s affairs, Santa Oketta, during the celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child at the Kaunda grounds in Gulu district. Gulu chairman Norbert Mao, in a speech read by Oketta, promised to ensure a safe and protective environment for children. During the celebrations, about 800 children and young adults were tested for HIV in a drive by Save the Children in Uganda, a non-governmental organisation.