The decision by United States President Donald Trump to suspend US foreign aid, including funding for HIV treatment, has sparked widespread misinformation regarding drug access. This has led to fears in the community, potentially deterring clients from picking up their refills, which could adversely affect their health and care progress.
Dr. Benard Michael Etukoit, Executive Director at TASO, stated that there has been a surge of false alerts circulating on social media claiming that their clinics have closed. He clarified that all eleven TASO clinics offering Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatments remain operational.
While some staff members have been temporarily sent home due to the 90-day funding freeze, Etukoit assured that critical personnel, including those responsible for dispensing medications, are still on duty and have sufficient refills available for the next three months.
Flavia Kyomukama, a resident living with HIV, expressed concern that the community’s misconceptions are preventing individuals from accessing medication. Many are now rationing their drugs, fearing shortages due to the misinformation.
“They don’t know what’s going on. Because they’ve heard grants were canceled, they won’t go to the facility to check if they can get some medicine. Some have decided to skip days without their medication in fear of running out,” she noted.
Dr. Yvonne Karamagi, Executive Director at Mildmay Uganda, echoed these concerns, revealing that their Entebbe-based ART clinic has also received complaints about closures, despite not being funded by the United States.
To combat the rampant misinformation, Etukoit indicated that TASO is considering media announcements urging clients to continue collecting their medications.
He emphasized that the idea of closing TASO is unfounded, as the organization has active funding for other projects and serves as the principal recipient of Global Fund grants in Uganda.
