AIDS ‘Not Serious Sickness’ Because HIV ‘Not Very Contagious,’ Avoidable, Ugandan President Museveni Says
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who is in Washington, D.C., this week meeting with government and business leaders, including President Bush, to discuss AIDS, trade and terrorism, said in an interview with the Washington Times that "AIDS is not a serious sickness ... because it's not very contagious" and that people can easily avoid acquiring the virus. Museveni said that other countries should follow Uganda's model for fighting the disease. He added, "I would like to recommend to countries of the world: to know that [HIV/AIDS] is avoidable. It's not like influenza, which ... (can be transmitted by) following somebody in the bus. It is actually benign, so it can be avoided. That is the thing I'd like to say to other countries in the world" (Behn, Washington Times, 6/12). The complete interview is available online.
NPR's "Morning Edition" today included an interview with Museveni about the country's approach to fighting HIV/AIDS (Edwards, "Morning Edition," NPR, 6/12). The full segment is available online in RealPlayer.