In The News
Chinese Prime Minister Visits IDI
June 24, 2006: The Chinese Prime Minister, His Excellency Wen Jiabao, today visited the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University.
Jiabao shook hands with several persons living with HIV who were singing, dancing, drawing pictures and playing board games. He joined them in beating the Baganda traditional drum, attracting wild cheers. He observed laboratory technicians drawing blood samples and doctors, nurses and counsellors examining patients.
A Friend of IDI, Rose Kawesa, told H.E. Jiabao that the free antiretroviral therapy at IDI had given her a new lease of life. “Now I realise that HIV infection is no longer a death sentence. I’m feeling well despite a few challenges in my body. I’m now able to work and look after my children,” she said. “I appeal to the international community to increase their support so that all people who need ARVS can get them.”
H.E. Jiabao, who spent 45 minutes at IDI, described the visit as an emotional experience. “I really feel sad for the Friends for what they are going through. At the same time I’m deeply touched by the care and support extended to them by IDI,” Jiabao said.
The Chinese premier then donated $100,000 and eight laptop computers to IDI. "AIDS has posed a global challenge to all, thus to control and conquer this devil would require concerted efforts of all,” he said.
The Chinese Premier was accompanied by the Uganda Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi. The Minister of Health, Dr. Stephen Malinga; two Ministers of State for Health, Dr. Richard Nduhura and Dr. Emmanuel Otala; the Director of IDI, Prof. Keith McAdam; the Vice Chancellor Makerere University, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi; the Dean Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Nelson Sewankambo; the Executive Director of Mulago Hospital, Dr. Edward Ddumba and senior health officials received him at IDI.
Prof. McAdam explained how the adult clinic at IDI had been transformed into a lively centre where people sing, dance, paint, play board games and gain confidence to tell their stories. “In all we do, we seek to serve those living with HIV/AIDS. Importantly we regard them not as the problem but as a key part to the solution,” Prof. McAdam said. Indeed, while we used to call our patients clients, we now call them ‘mikwano gyaffe’ or ‘or friends’.”
The IDI, an independent institute owned by Makerere University, now cares for more than 8,000 persons living with HIV and has trained nearly 1,000 medical workers from 23 African countries on how to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS. The institute’s mission is to build capacity in Africa for the delivery of sustainable, high quality HIV/AIDS care and prevention through training and research.
