Bush Urged To Relax American (AIDs) Drug Law - Uganda

[Nambe]

PEOPLE living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda have appealed to visiting US President George W. Bush to make it possible for them to access cheap drugs by relaxing the American law on the pharmaceutical industry.
The World Trade Organisation Doha Agreement on patenting drugs failed to reach a consensus two years ago after the US insisted on protecting the intellectual property rights of its pharmaceutical industry. The US declined to allow developing countries to copy the drug formulae easily and license the manufacture of the medicine locally.

“We are privileged that President Bush is visiting us. We need care, support and treatment. Over 1.5m Ugandans are already infected so drugs should be made available. Every single soul is precious. We cannot afford to lose it. This is our special appeal to Bush,” Dr. Florence Mahoro, the chairperson of the National Forum for People Living with HIV/AIDS, said.
She was yesterday addressing a press conference organised by the Uganda Coalition for Access to Essential Medicine, at the National Theatre.

Connie Ojiambo, 42, a former Old Kampala SS teacher living with HIV/AIDS, said her name was deleted from the payroll after she fell seriously ill in 2001. Ojiambo said she now has seven children to look after and no income. She appealed to Bush and his host President Yoweri Museveni to seriously discuss the issue of making cheap essential drugs accessible.

Privatize bush It’s a Good Thing

[LauraK]

1. Trying to ruin a perfectly good photo-op?

These poor people must not realize how heartless dimson is.