Kayunga in new AIDS campaign
Feb 29, 2008
KAYUNGA district health officials are to conduct door-to-door counselling and testing of HIV/AIDS as a strategy to combat further spread of the disease.
By Ronald Kalyango
and Charles Juuko
KAYUNGA district health officials are to conduct door-to-door counselling and testing of HIV/AIDS as a strategy to combat further spread of the disease.
“All our district health care providers have been trained in routine testing and counselling. We shall use that expertise to conduct the exercise,†said Dr. Edrisa Musisi, the director of health services.
The activity will be conducted in conjunction with Makerere University Walter-Reed Project officials already operating in Kayunga. The project is a collaborative scheme between the university and the US Military HIV research programme.
The Walter-Reed Project has since 2005 aided Kayunga by supporting AIDS treatment sites in improving laboratory services, counselling and testing, data collection, supplies, and training.
During the commissioning of a refurbished HIV/AIDS clinic at Kayunga Hospital, Musisi noted that the epidemic was no longer a health issue but a development challenge.
“Today we are witnessing one of the answers to the greatest challenge of limited space. For years there have been a lot of delays in distributing anti-retroviral drugs to patients because of little space,†he said.
Musisi added that they would send a medical team to Kumi to study the scheme before implementing it in May or June. The eastern district has undertaken a similar door-to-door testing and counselling approach
The officer in charge of HIV/AIDS activities at the hospital, Dr. Connie Namajja, said the renovated clinic would serve more people and save time.
“Patients have been coming here very early and leaving late in the evening,â€
The U.S Military HIV research programme officer, Nelson Michael, who launched the clinic, pledged more support.
and Charles Juuko
KAYUNGA district health officials are to conduct door-to-door counselling and testing of HIV/AIDS as a strategy to combat further spread of the disease.
“All our district health care providers have been trained in routine testing and counselling. We shall use that expertise to conduct the exercise,†said Dr. Edrisa Musisi, the director of health services.
The activity will be conducted in conjunction with Makerere University Walter-Reed Project officials already operating in Kayunga. The project is a collaborative scheme between the university and the US Military HIV research programme.
The Walter-Reed Project has since 2005 aided Kayunga by supporting AIDS treatment sites in improving laboratory services, counselling and testing, data collection, supplies, and training.
During the commissioning of a refurbished HIV/AIDS clinic at Kayunga Hospital, Musisi noted that the epidemic was no longer a health issue but a development challenge.
“Today we are witnessing one of the answers to the greatest challenge of limited space. For years there have been a lot of delays in distributing anti-retroviral drugs to patients because of little space,†he said.
Musisi added that they would send a medical team to Kumi to study the scheme before implementing it in May or June. The eastern district has undertaken a similar door-to-door testing and counselling approach
The officer in charge of HIV/AIDS activities at the hospital, Dr. Connie Namajja, said the renovated clinic would serve more people and save time.
“Patients have been coming here very early and leaving late in the evening,â€
The U.S Military HIV research programme officer, Nelson Michael, who launched the clinic, pledged more support.