Editor,

I’ve heard stories about how HIV/AIDS used to spread in the region in the 1980’s. According to some stories, the disease quickly multiplied because the regional nations, instead of fighting this disease in tandem, put their heads in the sand and pretended that nothing was happening.

And as we all know, that approach wasn’t successful at all. East African citizens perished in huge numbers until the states begun fighting this scourge tooth and nail.

Certainly successes have been registered by these states, but imagine just how these successes would multiply if every East African worked in tandem?

That is why I’m pleased that an East African Community (EAC), workshop on mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS prevention has begun here in Kigali.

It is especially important that there is an improvement in the harmonization of HIV/AIDS protocols, policies, plans, strategies and legislation.

I’m sure that Rwanda has something to share with our brothers and sisters in Burundi and I’m sure there are some Kenyan policies that will work in Uganda.

Therefore, it is my sincere wish that we get a regional HIV/AIDS policy as quickly as possible.

Ghiom Mugabe
Nyamirambo