Press Release

The American People provide support to modern AIDS Care and Treatment Clinic in Mkuranga

June 3, 2008

A modern HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Clinic which will cater for more than 210,000 residents of Mkuranga District, Pwani region was launched on Monday, June 2nd, 2008.

The building of this new AIDS care treatment center has been possible because of the generous support from the American People through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief via the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) and Columbia University.

The launch represents another milestone in the Region in collaboration with the Columbia University; International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment (ICAP Tanzania) is undergoing to fight HIV/AIDS pandemic. Built within the premises of Mkuranga District Council, the clinic will provide free AIDS treatment services with Anti Retroviral Drugs (ARV) throughout the week (Monday through Friday) using a well trained and skilled medical staff in collaboration with ICAP-Tanzania of Columbia University, who have worked in partnership with the region to ensure high quality AIDS Care and Treatment are taking place.

Over 850 people have been enrolled in HIV care and treatment at the Mkuranga facility since the program launched 12 months ago. Nine (9) AIDS care and treatment centers across the region offer services, as well as 31 facilities offering Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services

According to District Medical Officer, Dr.Ayoub Shekimweri, “We hope that the people of Mkuranga District will use this modern new facility, for HIV testing, care and treatment.”

ICAP-Tanzania has since 2004 been in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) to build broad capacity at national, regional and district levels in support of the National Care and Treatment Plan. Apart from Pwani, ICAP-Tanzania also works in Kigoma, Kagera and Zanzibar. In Pwani alone, ICAP has provided over $1,100,000 in direct material, financial and technical support to the region in the past year, improving infrastructure, laboratory and clinical care services and building broad capacity for the health system to provide quality HIV care and treatment.

In addition to support for clinical care services, ICAP Tanzania is also strengthening the community response. ICAP Country Director Amy Cunningham noted that, “ICAP also launched an Adherence and Psychosocial support and Family support groups for HIV positive pregnant women program in Pwani Region, with programs at Mkuranga District Hospital underway.”

Cunningham, said, “As ICAP, we hope that all people of Mkuranga will test to know their status, continue using prevention methods and use the HIV Care and Treatment Services at Mkuranga District Hospital and throughout the district.”

Support for ICAP’s work in Pwani is part of on-going U.S. Government support to Tanzania. By the end of this fiscal year, America will have provided over $818 million to Tanzania towards combating HIV/AIDS. This assistance comes from the American people and is part of overall U.S. Government direct and multilateral assistance to Tanzania of more than 750 billion Tanzanian shillings.

For more information about the Care and Treatment Centers or other PEPFAR related programs, please contact the Press Office at the U.S. Mission at 266-8001 ext. 4181 or Judy Wiegert, PEPFAR media outreach coordinator at the same number.