A senior United Nations (UN) official has accused US President George W. Bush of "doing damage to Africa" by cutting funding for condoms, a move which may jeopardize the successful fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

Stephen Lewis, the UN secretary general's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, said US cuts in funding for condoms and an emphasis on promoting abstinence had contributed to a shortage of condoms in Uganda, one of the few African countries which has succeeded in reducing its infection rate.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the condom crisis in Uganda is being driven by (US policies)," said Lewis. "To impose a dogma-driven policy that is fundamentally flawed is doing damage to Africa."

The condom shortage has developed because both the US and the Ugandan Government, which is the main donor for HIV/AIDS prevention, have allowed supplies to dwindle, according to an American pressure group, the Centre for Health and Gender Equity (CHGE).

In 2003, US President Bush declared he would spend US$15 billion on his emergency plan for AIDS relief, but receiving aid under the programme has moral strings attached.

Recipient countries have to emphasize abstinence over condoms, and - under a congressional amendment - they must condemn prostitution.

While Uganda needs between 120 million and 150 million condoms a year, only 32 million have been distributed since last October, CHGE said in a report published on Monday.

Officially, Uganda remains committed to the threefold "ABC" policy. The initials stand for "Abstinence, Be faithful, use a Condom". The Ugandan Government denied on Monday that there is a scarcity of condoms or a policy change.

The Health Minister Jim Muhwezi said: "It is not true that there is a condom shortage. There seems to be a co-ordinated smear campaign by those who do not want to use any other alternative simultaneously with condoms against AIDS."

The minister insisted that condoms remain an important part of their HIV prevention strategy.

Source: China Daily