Kayunga, Mukono get HIV machine

Apr 28, 2008

PEOPLE living with HIV/AIDS in Mukono and Kayunga districts will no longer have to travel to Kampala to know their level of immunity <br>A CD4 count machine – used for testing the ability of an HIV-positive person’s body to resist opportunistic infections – has been installed in the area. It

By Alex Bukumunhe
PEOPLE living with HIV/AIDS in Mukono and Kayunga districts will no longer have to travel to Kampala to know their level of immunity
A CD4 count machine – used for testing the ability of an HIV-positive person’s body to resist opportunistic infections – has been installed in the area. It can also test blood for diseases of the liver and kidney.

The minister of trade, tourism and industry, Janat Mukwaya, last week launched a laboratory with the machine at Kyetume community health centre in Nakisunga sub-county, Mukono district.

She urged residents to always test to know their HIV status.

“It is no longer a shame to die of HIV/AIDS, but dying prematurely is.

It is important to know your status early such that you use anti-retroviral drugs which can enable you live positively and longer,” she said.

The laboratory technician, George William Mwasa, said: “This equipment, like others in Mulago and many national hospitals, uses the latest technology,” Mwasa noted.

Kyetume Community-based Healthcare Programme joined hands with its partners like Actionaid-Uganda, Global Church Ministries and The Aid Support Organisation (TASO) to procure the machine.

“We acquired this equipment through hire purchase. Out of the sh70m required, we have so far paid sh40m,” explained John Kiyimba, the Kyetume community-based health care programme manager.

But he added that the centre needs more beds and an ambulance, something which minister Mukwaya promised to follow up.

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