A delegation from Starbucks Coffee Company, a leading global retailer, and roaster of coffee, commended Rwanda’s progress towards fighting HIV/Aids, stating that the steps taken so far are impressive.

The officials made these remarks during their visit to the Trac plus Clinic in Kigali, on Friday.

According to the TRAC Plus Director General, Prof Michael Kramer, the Coffee Company is the latest addition to the group of organizations that contribute generously to the RED campaign – an initiative that aims at eliminating AIDS in Africa.

"Our clinic is mainly funded by the Global Fund which also has partners like the RED campaign. As contributors to this campaign, we see their visit to our clinic as a great initiative.”

"By seeing how things are done here and exactly how their money is spent, we believe that this helps to strengthen their commitment towards this cause,” Kramer told The New Times, in a phone interview.

The health expert also explained that the clinic offers anti-ritral viral drugs to HIV/Aids patients, psycho-social support, nutrition and general medical treatment to over 15000 patients.

Dr. José Nyamusori, an official at the clinic also attested that Starbucks officials were impressed by the procedures that are followed at the clinic.

"The delegation met most of the patients and visited various departments in the clinic. They were really impressed by the way things happen here,” Nyamusori noted.

According to a statement from the Coffee Company, the senior leadership team had the opportunity to learn and witness in person how the availability of antiretroviral therapy, which (RED) helps finance has helped make a difference in peoples’ lives.

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the dominant financer of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with approved funding of US $15 billion for programs in 140 countries.  

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