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AHF Partners in Two New Free AIDS Treatment Clinics in Rwanda

Posted on: Thursday, 2 February 2006, 15:00 CST

KIGALI, Rwanda, and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest US-based AIDS organization which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Central America and Asia, has joined together with the Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in a new partnership to provide life-saving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in two new free Rwandan AIDS treatment clinics in the Kagugu Health Centre (Kigali city) District of Gasabo and Nyakigezi Health Centre in the Health district of Nyabihu, approximately 140km from Kigali in the Northern Province. AHF has signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the two partners to provide AIDS medical care and ART as well as technical assistance to ensure the highest quality of HIV/AIDS care to patients at these two district health facilities.

"I am very pleased to announce that we treated our first patients -- and began anti-retroviral treatment -- in Rwanda at the Nyakigezi Health Centre on Monday, January 30th, and we expect our first patients at the Kagugu Health Centre to begin anti-retroviral treatment by early next week," said Bernard Okongo, MD, Africa Bureau Chief for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "We are pleased to join together with the Rwanda Ministry of Health, the Global Fund and the two health centres in this life-saving collaboration, and are honored to be able to bring AIDS treatment and care to those in need.

"This partnership in Rwanda brings together many respected stakeholders with expertise and clinical, public health and management skills that are essential for any successful HIV treatment program," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "We look forward to working closely together with our new partners in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as we scale up of HIV/AIDS treatment in Rwanda."

"We hope to quickly scale up delivery of ART in Rwanda through these new AIDS treatment facilities," added Dr. Okongo, who as Africa Bureau Chief for AHF is based in neighboring Uganda, where AHF has 11 free AIDS treatment clinics under its Uganda CARES partnership with the Ugandan Ministry of Health. "In particular, I'd like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Innocent Nyaruhirira, Minister of State for HIV and Other Epidemics, Ministry of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Executive Secretary of CNLS (National AIDS Control Commission); Dr. Anita Assimwe, Director of TRAC (Treatment and Research AIDS Centre); Ms. Ida Hakizimana, the Global Fund Acting Coordinator, all GF Rwanda team and District, and health centers officials for their efforts in helping to ensure these two AIDS treatment facilities became a reality."

"AHF's program in Rwanda is managed and coordinated by Ms. Rose Gahire, The Country Program Manager, who has vast experience in HIV/AIDS programs," said Henry E. Chang, Chief of AHF's Global programs. "We are optimistic that this collaboration in Rwanda will be very successful and to the benefit of the people in most need."

The Kagugu Health Centre serves a population of 15,766 people in the Gasabo District of the Kigali City. For 2006, AHF's treatment goals for this facility are to bring 310 adults and 20 children onto ART. The existing Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and PMTCT programs operating in this health centre have already tested 535 patients. Forty seven tested positive and most are in need of ART; an additional 100-300 patients are expected to be added annually to the treatment rolls. In addition, patients from adjacent areas may seek treatment at Kagugu.

The Nyakigezi Health Centre serves a population of 14,185 people in the health district of Nyabihu in the Northern Province. The existing Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and PMTCT programs operating in this health centre have already tested 1,950 clients, of whom 219 tested positive, and most are in need of ART. Previously to access ART, clients were referred and had to travel over 20 kilometers to Nemba or Shyira health centers and others to the referral hospital in Ruhengeri. This site brings ART nearer and within the catchment area. Given the current lack of services in the surrounding areas, it is likely that this site will attract clients from adjacent areas as well. The 2006 target for the Nyakigezi site is 500 adults and 40 children on ART.

AHF's strategy is to provide support and technical assistance to ensure the highest quality of care to patients at the two facilities. This includes the training and capacitating of local groups to provide adherence support and counseling, a key to the success of all of AHF's global ART delivery programs. AHF will work in close cooperation with the Global Fund, the Ministry of Health, and the Treatment and Research AIDS Center (TRAC).

Rwanda's population is 8.5 million people. Approximately 250,000 Rwandans are thought to be living with HIV/AIDS, and of these, just over 18,000 are currently receiving anti-retroviral treatment. Nearly 40,000 are in urgent need of such life-saving ART.

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

CONTACT: UNITED STATES, Ged Kenslea, Communications Director,+1-323-860-5225, or mobile, +1-323-791-5526, or AFRICA, Bernard Okongo, MD,Africa Bureau Chief, +256.41.346.311, or mobile, +256.712.551.357, both ofAIDS Healthcare Foundation

Source: PRNewswire

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