Ugandan Health Minister: Gays will not face discrimination in accessing healthcare
Uganda’s health minister says gay citizens will not be discriminated against when accessing healthcare despite the signing into law of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Charities warn the new law will have “disastrous” effects on the country’s response to HIV.
Health Minister Ruhakana Rugunda told the Associated Press on Wednesday that a clause which would have required medical workers to report gay Ugandans to police was removed from the bill.
“All people whether they are sexual orientation as gays or otherwise are at complete liberty to get full treatment and to give full disclosure to their doctors and nurses,” he told the BBC.
Mr Rugunda added: “And by the way, health workers will live up to their ethics of keeping confidentiality of their patients.”
Politicians and campaigners around the world have strongly criticised President Yoweri Musevni for signing Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton described the move as “draconian”.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was “deeply saddened and disappointed”.
The UK Government confirmed to PinkNews that none of its aid goes directly to the Ugandan Government.
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