Queen shakes hand of Ugandan HIV patient
by Dan Wooding
November 30, 2007
KAMPALA, UGANDA (ANS) -- Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has shaken hands with a HIV patient in public for the first time, while touring an AIDS clinic during her state visit to Uganda.According to the BBC, dozens of children and adults living with the virus were met by the monarch at treatment facilities established by the UK-based Evangelical AIDS charity Mildmay.
"The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh saw an out-patients clinic and a newly expanded children's hospital in Kampala," said the BBC story. "The Queen described Mildmay's work in Uganda as 'impressive."
"The handshake came when the Queen met Steven Wakodo, who is HIV positive and has been treated at the facility on a monthly basis since 2002. The Queen was introduced to Mr. Wakodo and stretched out her arm to shake his hand as he gave a short bow of his head."
A Mildmay staff member explained the medical history of the 40-year-old, who was joined by his 35-year-old wife, Grace, and 13-year-old daughter, Winternahwama - both of whom also have the virus - and his five-month-old daughter, Austraunt.
"The handshake is likely to evoke memories of Diana, Princess of Wales, who famously punctured early myths about HIV by holding hands with a man with AIDS on his sickbed in the late 1980s," stated the BBC story.
Music and dance
As the royal party toured the outpatient clinic's complex of buildings, they smiled as they were given a traditional welcome of high pitched yelps from staff and visitors.
Ruth Sims, a vice-president of Mildmay and founder of the Ugandan centre and hospital said she wanted to show a different side to HIV patients, so she organized a number of colorful displays of African music and dance to contrast with negative impressions of those with HIV.
"I wanted to show these are normal children. What does it matter what they have got - you can treat them and they can get better," she said.
"I told the Queen that we tried to give her something that was different and that she would enjoy. She said to me, 'This is certainly different and I do enjoy it.'"
Before leaving, the Queen unveiled a plaque for the hospital's new Elizabeth Wing, named in her honor.
'Real hope'
The BBC story went on to say, "The Queen continued her tour with a visit to the Ugandan parliament. In a speech to MPs and President Yoweri Museveni, she highlighted the east African country's fight against HIV and AIDS."
The Queen said: "The scourge of HIV infection and Aids has touched the lives of so many of Uganda's people. It is difficult sometimes, when the sorrow associated with this disease is so profound, to avoid a sense of despair.
"And yet there are growing numbers of people and organizations whose work gives cause for real hope."
The Queen was in Uganda ahead of Friday's (November 23) Commonwealth heads of government meeting.
The conference, which is held every two years, is expected to be dominated by the state of emergency in Pakistan.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be joined later by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, who are also making an official visit to the country.
It will be the first time Prince Charles has been to a gathering of Commonwealth leaders held abroad.
