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Mr. Miles White (left), Chief
Executive Officer of Abbot Laboratories, discussing with Dr. Naftal
King'ori, Arusha's Regional Medical Officer, issues pertaining to the
accreditation initiative on October 3. (Photo by Raymond John) |
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Minister of Health, Anna Abdalla
(front, centre) with a delegation from Abbot Laboratories in the US
visiting Mount Meru Hospital on October 3. (Photo by Raymond John) |
Mt. Meru Hospital accredited in HIV care and
treatment
by Staff Reporter
Mount Meru Hospital is one of five facilities that have been identified in the
country for accreditation as national centres to provide comprehensive HIV care
and treatment.
The accreditation, an initiative of the government and Abbot Fund, improves the
capacity of the health facilities so that they are able to do "a holistic and
wider range of tests and care for needing clients".
Other facilities that have been earmarked for such accreditation are Mwanza,
Mara, Tabora regional hospitals and Tukuyu district hospital.
The initiative which involves strengthening of facilities and training will
allow the sites to expand treatment programs through a variety of funding
sources.
At the Mount Meru Hospital, according to officials of the facility, four more
consultation rooms will be renovated; a modern incinerator will be constructed
to improve waste disposal; a standby power generator will be installed to supply
constant power; a bore-hole will be in place to supply water; and more
sophisticated laboratory equipment will be provided.
Abbot Laboratories of USA collaborates with the Ministry of Health through the
National AIDS Control Programme in HIV activities in the country. It provides
funds to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS through AXIOS, a non governmental
organization based in Dar es Salaam, that provides technical assistance using
funding from Abbot.
The collaboration with Mount Meru Hospital started since last year in Voluntary
Counseling and Testing (VCT) of patients for HIV and subsequent care. This is in
realization that VCT is one of the best ways of combating the spread of HIV. To
implement this, a strategy was devised to reduce the stigma while at the same
time encouraging people to know their sero-status.
For 2004 and 2005 a total of US$ 85,012 has been committed to Mount Meru
Hospital to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS of which US$ 37,000 is devoted
toward enabling the hospital achieve accreditation status.
The HIV prevalence among the general population in Arusha is 5.3 per cent,
according to a survey conducted in 2003-2004. Cumulative reported AIDS cases in
Arusha region by August this year were 8,088 compared to 303 in 1995. Of the
cumulative total 3,925 are male and 4,163 female.
Countrywide the population living with HIV/AIDS is estimated at 1.6 million out
of a total population of 37.7 million, according to UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO
Epidemiological Fact Sheet, 2004 Update.
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