Mulago expands HIV/AIDS care
Jun 20, 2009
MULAGO Hospital has improved its HIV/AIDS services, following its inauguration of the ZAYED MU-JHU centre last month. MU-JHU Family Care Centre is sponsored by the Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates.
By Jude kafuuma
MULAGO Hospital has improved its HIV/AIDS services, following its inauguration of the ZAYED MU-JHU centre last month.
MU-JHU Family Care Centre, was operating in a smaller premise on Mulago hill till a new building, sponsored by the Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates, was opened on June 1 by the health state minister, Richard Nduhura.
The new sh2bn centre has increased its capacity of HIV/AIDS family care from originally treating 100 to 500 families per week.
The family-care approach involves offering of all the necessary HIV care to all members of the families of their clients.
According to Prof. Mary Glenn Fowler, the executive director of ZAYED MU-JHU centre, they can now support a wide range of holistic family care and treatment of activities for HIV infected women and their families. These are normally identified through ante natal (PMTCT) programme at Mulago Hospital.
The centre now houses research projects on primary HIV prevention and the development of a vaginal gel to prevent HIV infection among uninfected women (microbicides), nutrition counselling and income generating activities aimed at reducing HIV transmission from mothers to new born babies.
“About 3,000 women have been undergoing PMTCT services each year in the last five years. Now we can handle an average of 4,500 cases,†she said.
Pregnant women found HIV positive at Mulago’s antenatal department are forwarded to the Zayed MU_JHU centre, where they can take all members of their families.
Here, they are taught how to provide nutritious foods for their HIV exposed infants at weaning, helped to handle psychosocial needs, adolescent are given support and counselling besides the usual drama, music and dance activities.
The centre’s new spacious facility is the third and biggest building at the centre. It houses a clinic, programme and administration offices, a teleconferencing skills building and training room, a nutritional clinic and craft centre.
MULAGO Hospital has improved its HIV/AIDS services, following its inauguration of the ZAYED MU-JHU centre last month.
MU-JHU Family Care Centre, was operating in a smaller premise on Mulago hill till a new building, sponsored by the Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates, was opened on June 1 by the health state minister, Richard Nduhura.
The new sh2bn centre has increased its capacity of HIV/AIDS family care from originally treating 100 to 500 families per week.
The family-care approach involves offering of all the necessary HIV care to all members of the families of their clients.
According to Prof. Mary Glenn Fowler, the executive director of ZAYED MU-JHU centre, they can now support a wide range of holistic family care and treatment of activities for HIV infected women and their families. These are normally identified through ante natal (PMTCT) programme at Mulago Hospital.
The centre now houses research projects on primary HIV prevention and the development of a vaginal gel to prevent HIV infection among uninfected women (microbicides), nutrition counselling and income generating activities aimed at reducing HIV transmission from mothers to new born babies.
“About 3,000 women have been undergoing PMTCT services each year in the last five years. Now we can handle an average of 4,500 cases,†she said.
Pregnant women found HIV positive at Mulago’s antenatal department are forwarded to the Zayed MU_JHU centre, where they can take all members of their families.
Here, they are taught how to provide nutritious foods for their HIV exposed infants at weaning, helped to handle psychosocial needs, adolescent are given support and counselling besides the usual drama, music and dance activities.
The centre’s new spacious facility is the third and biggest building at the centre. It houses a clinic, programme and administration offices, a teleconferencing skills building and training room, a nutritional clinic and craft centre.