Uganda: Nile Breweries Trains Farmers on HIV/Aids

Nile Breweries has completed training 200 sorghum farmers as HIV/Aids peer educators, New Vision (Kampala) reported May 23.

The trainees were selected from 15 core epuripursorghum growing areas in the western, northern and eastern regions.

Nile Breweries uses epuripur variety of sorghum to make Eagle Lager and Eagle Extra beer brands.

The brands are popular among the rural drinkers.

"We want farmers who grow sorghum for us to be alive, healthy and productive," Onapito-Ekomoloit, the corporate affairs manager, said in a statement.

He said the training was conducted by trainers from the Business Part, a USAID-funded project that specialises in HIV/Aids education. It started in February in Masindi and Hoima.

It ended in May in Pallisa after covering Amuria, Amolatar, Apac, Bukedea, Budaka, Dokolo, Lira, Kabermaido, Katakwi, Kumi, Oyam and Soroti.

The main message passed to the educators was for them to guide farmers to know their HIV/Aids status so as to take the necessary measures to be healthy and productive, regardless of the results.

25 May, 2007