HIV/AIDS Health Service Center Inaugurated in Air Force Referral Hospital, Oromiya

November 9, 2007
N0. 49/07

CDC-Ethiopia and UCSD Inaugurate a VCT and ART Center Fully Renovated with PEPFAR Funds 

Bishoftu, Oromiya – With the support of the United States Government and the American people, a Voluntary Counseling & Testing (VCT) and ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy) Center has been opened at the Ethiopian Air Force Hospital in Bishoftu, Oromiya Region.  Operating in partnership with the University of California San Diego (UCSD), the Center was fully renovated and equipped through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC – Ethiopia).  The US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Deborah Malac, inaugurated the new facility along with representatives from the National Ministry of Defense, the Country Directors of CDC-Ethiopia, and representatives of UCSD.

Extensive structural improvement works and provision of laboratory equipment and furniture were initiated in December 2006.  Today the newly renovated hospital provides ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy), VCT (Voluntary Counseling & Testing), PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission), TB/HIV collaborative activities, PIHTC (Provider Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling) and Palliative Care services for the Ethiopian Air Force members, their dependants, and retired members, as well as to civilians in the town. 

Presently, 359 patients are receiving Anti Retroviral Therapy and Volunteer Counseling and Testing has been provided to 5,950 clients.  In addition, 180 pregnant women have been tested for HIV and 21 of them have taken PMTCT treatment. 

Future plans for the center focus on strengthening the center’s palliative care, TB/HIV and its STI services.  Moreover the UCSD extension plan will incorporate the initiation of its VCT activities in the Dire Dewa, Bahir Dar and Mekelle Air Forces bases.
 
The Air Force VCT and ART Center is one of many examples of the close cooperation between the Ethiopian and American governments in combating HIV/AIDS through both prevention and treatment.  The National Defense Forces of Ethiopia is one of the uniformed service partners to UCSD; the Air Force Hospital is one of the 10 ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy) sites that give comprehensive HIV/AIDS related services in the National Defense Forces of Ethiopia.  The hospital is the referral center for air force health facilities which are located at different parts of the country.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease – a five-year, $15 billion, multifaceted approach to combating HIV/AIDS around the world through programs to prevent HIV infection, and provide comprehensive care and treatment to those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.

Ethiopia is one of PEPFAR’s 15 focus countries, which collectively represent 50 percent of HIV infections worldwide. Under the Emergency Plan, Ethiopia received more than $48 million in FY2004, more than $83.7 million in FY 2005, and approximately $123 million in FY2006 to support a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care program. In FY 2007, the United States Government (USG) has pledged more than 241.8 million to support Ethiopia’s fight against HIV/AIDS.

For more information, please contact:
CDC Communications
Sofia Yilma; Media Relations Specialist
Office tel: 0114 669549
Mobile: 0911 662846
Email: yilmas@et.cdc.gov

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