Kagadi Hospital gets CD4 count machine
Dec 02, 2009
The Infectious Disease Institute, a USAID funded project, has given Kagadi Hospital in Kibaale district a CD4 count machine that will help in the management of people infected with HIV/AIDS.
By Ismael Kasooha
The Infectious Disease Institute, a USAID funded project, has given Kagadi Hospital in Kibaale district a CD4 count machine that will help in the management of people infected with HIV/AIDS.
This was revealed by the district LC5 vice-chairperson, George Bizibu, while presiding over the year’s World AIDS Day commemoration at Kyebando sub-county headquarters on Tuesday.
Bizibu, who is also the secretary for health, said the machine, worth sh40m, has been installed in the hospital.
“Our people have been getting problems especially those who tested HIV-positive. They haven’t been accessing anti-retroviral drugs because it was very expensive for them to get their CD4 count,†he said.
In the past, people who tested HIV-positive would pay sh12,000 to have their CD4 count test done in Fort Portal or Kampala.
During President Yoweri Museveni’s visit to Kibaale in April 2008, people living with HIV/AIDS requested for a CD4 count Machine.
The Infectious Disease Institute coordinator in Kibaale, Peter Okello, said the machine would boost the call for voluntary counselling and testing to help in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge.
A campaign to promote voluntary HIV testing in the district was launched. All district officials who came for the function tested as an example to the people.
According to the district health officer, Dr. Dan Kyamanywa, the current HIV prevalence rate stands at 6.2%. Out of the 580,000 people in the district, only 40,000 have tested for HIV.
Kyamanywa said the district plans to have routine counselling and testing in its health facilities.
“Your responsibilty is to test and know your sero status to be able to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS,†Kyamanywa said.
Over 320 people tested for HIV/AIDS at the function.
The World AIDS Day was commemorated under the theme “Universal Access and Human Rights†with a slogan “accessibility is my right, testing my responsibilityâ€.
The Infectious Disease Institute, a USAID funded project, has given Kagadi Hospital in Kibaale district a CD4 count machine that will help in the management of people infected with HIV/AIDS.
This was revealed by the district LC5 vice-chairperson, George Bizibu, while presiding over the year’s World AIDS Day commemoration at Kyebando sub-county headquarters on Tuesday.
Bizibu, who is also the secretary for health, said the machine, worth sh40m, has been installed in the hospital.
“Our people have been getting problems especially those who tested HIV-positive. They haven’t been accessing anti-retroviral drugs because it was very expensive for them to get their CD4 count,†he said.
In the past, people who tested HIV-positive would pay sh12,000 to have their CD4 count test done in Fort Portal or Kampala.
During President Yoweri Museveni’s visit to Kibaale in April 2008, people living with HIV/AIDS requested for a CD4 count Machine.
The Infectious Disease Institute coordinator in Kibaale, Peter Okello, said the machine would boost the call for voluntary counselling and testing to help in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge.
A campaign to promote voluntary HIV testing in the district was launched. All district officials who came for the function tested as an example to the people.
According to the district health officer, Dr. Dan Kyamanywa, the current HIV prevalence rate stands at 6.2%. Out of the 580,000 people in the district, only 40,000 have tested for HIV.
Kyamanywa said the district plans to have routine counselling and testing in its health facilities.
“Your responsibilty is to test and know your sero status to be able to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS,†Kyamanywa said.
Over 320 people tested for HIV/AIDS at the function.
The World AIDS Day was commemorated under the theme “Universal Access and Human Rights†with a slogan “accessibility is my right, testing my responsibilityâ€.