Aids was bad in Uganda 20 years ago but with a strong government effort over the years it has a better rate of awareness of the problem and doing something about it than most African countries. In almost all small villages there will be an aids/HIV clinic. Today we met a couple of the people n the forefront of trying to curtail this disease. Pisdon and Tony work at the local university hospital in the HV Research Dept in association with a university in San Francisco. They explained to us the main problem they have in the country is for people to accept that they have HIV/Aids, but, with the aid if the new drugs that are becoming available even in these countries, they can live a normal life with a few precautions. Something that we are aware of in AU but for the average Ugandan once they get the disease they are ostracized by their family and community. With the aid of ‘Expats’, people who are HIV but are living a normal life, they are getting through to the people that it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. They are doing an amazing job, something South Africa should cotton on to.
We stayed another night at this amazing place, but, whereas there has been us and a Dutch couple in the camping area, tonight an overlander bus has pulled up spewing forth an array of young backpackers setting up tents all around us. There’s the breaks. At least they are quiet and have left room for us to drive out in the morning.
Mariana & Hank are an amazing couple: maybe a little younger than us their lives are split 3 months travelling then 3 months back in the Netherlands. They leave their Toyota Land cruiser in a safe place then fly home for a break. I managed to find two countries, Egypt and Sudan, they hadn’t been to. Gives one food for thought.
Early evening we are serenaded by this chorus of frogs that make this beautiful ‘tink…tink…tink’ sound from all around the lake. Makes me think of Tinkerbell spreading her magic dust in the old 78s we used to listen to. The path to the restaurant runs along the edge of the water, it’s magical walking back to the van with such a serenade.
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Hi their, This is Pidson of Mbarara University. Well its great to hear that you enjoyed your stay here in Uganda.
As far as the HIV is concerned i wanted to update you that the Quality chemicals Industries have put up an ARV industry or Anti Re trivial drugs. This we imagine would check the expensive drugs we drugs we have been importing which made it hard for every one to access.
I guess now all that Remains is to work hard on addhearance to drugs.
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