Blog #4: Uganda says "Healthcare for All", Despite the Anti-Gay Law

Summary:
The Uganda government feels that it is their job to provide an equal healthcare system. According to their health care officials their gay people should be honest about their health, and all should be treated for HIV and AIDS. Their honesty is important for effective treatment and will be kept confidentital. Fear of being honest for gay people has increased in Uganda, because of the severe and life-threatening punishment that will follow if someone knows. In 2011, a gay activist was killed in Uganda for being on the cover of a now retired magazine. This lead to withdrawals of country's out of funding the nation's goverment, which could poentially lead to a great deficit. The Netherland's have already stopped a transaction of 9.6m to the judicial system of Uganda. This could put Uganda back along with the other counntries withdrawal.

Analysis:
It's a situation where the gay community is put in a corner and the Uganda government are on every side. They will be put to death if they are found out, and the healthcare initiative forwards the need of honesty and trust in the health professionals to be confidential. That is a lot of pressure when you talk about placing your life in someone else's hands, and hoping they won't go to the cops to tell them who you really are. On a more positive note they do care about the gay community's health and wants to offer anything that they can. Governments around the globe are seeing the effects of Uganda's choice, and even if the bill they passed is wrong or right they are facing the effects of losing money from other supplying countries. Millions of dollars are being pulled out of Uganda's government because of this bill and the choice of making health care for all will have to be without discrimination and punishment. This bill has upset the international community on both sides of the argument and people are starting to take action. It is a kind gesture to make healthcare for all people, but there is a wall of fear built around this healthcare plan if no one can knock it down or somehow open the door to a new start. The country will stay as is or less and that is something that the Uganda government will have to face with this type of issue. This will either help cut the disease of HIV/AIDS or it will kill more lives than it will save. 


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26349166