Kamwenge gets CD4 count machine
THE Ministry of Health has given a CD4 count machine worth sh200m to Kamwenge district.
By Hope Mafaranga
THE Ministry of Health has given a CD4 count machine worth sh200m to Kamwenge district.
The director of AIDS research, Prof. John Rwomushana, said the machine, which will be installed at Ntara Health Centre IV in Kitagwenda county, will reduce the transport and testing costs.
People had to travel to Fort Portal to have their CD4 test done.
The delivery of the machine followed complaints from residents of the Rwenzori region, who said the machine at Fort Portal Hospital often broke down.
Handing over the machine to the district leaders at Kamwenge Health Centre III, Rwomushana urged people living with HIV to stop infecting others deliberately.
He also asked the Government to increase funding to districts to boost HIV/AIDS programmes.
“HIV is still a big problem yet funds allocated to its programmes are too little to make an impact,†Rwomushana said.
He explained that researchers from around the world were still struggling to find an HIV/AIDS vaccine, and appealed to Ugandans to protect themselves against the virus.
“Millions of people are getting infected and dying every day,†he added.
Kamwenge district chairman Edward Musingye said the district would release sh38m to install the donated CD4 machine.
He said the district would also ensure that people living with HIV get ARVs.
Umaru Gumisiriza, who has lived with HIV for more than 10 years, called upon the Government to make HIV testing compulsory for every Ugandan.
He also urged church leaders to stop wedding couples before confirming their HIV status.
The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Kamwenge district stands at 4.8%, while that of Uganda in general is 6.7%.
THE Ministry of Health has given a CD4 count machine worth sh200m to Kamwenge district.
The director of AIDS research, Prof. John Rwomushana, said the machine, which will be installed at Ntara Health Centre IV in Kitagwenda county, will reduce the transport and testing costs.
People had to travel to Fort Portal to have their CD4 test done.
The delivery of the machine followed complaints from residents of the Rwenzori region, who said the machine at Fort Portal Hospital often broke down.
Handing over the machine to the district leaders at Kamwenge Health Centre III, Rwomushana urged people living with HIV to stop infecting others deliberately.
He also asked the Government to increase funding to districts to boost HIV/AIDS programmes.
“HIV is still a big problem yet funds allocated to its programmes are too little to make an impact,†Rwomushana said.
He explained that researchers from around the world were still struggling to find an HIV/AIDS vaccine, and appealed to Ugandans to protect themselves against the virus.
“Millions of people are getting infected and dying every day,†he added.
Kamwenge district chairman Edward Musingye said the district would release sh38m to install the donated CD4 machine.
He said the district would also ensure that people living with HIV get ARVs.
Umaru Gumisiriza, who has lived with HIV for more than 10 years, called upon the Government to make HIV testing compulsory for every Ugandan.
He also urged church leaders to stop wedding couples before confirming their HIV status.
The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Kamwenge district stands at 4.8%, while that of Uganda in general is 6.7%.