KIGOMA: KIGOMA regional authorities have promised to closely work with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in promoting health services including fight against HIV and AIDS to save people’s lives.
Kigoma Regional Commissioner Thobias Andengenye pledged in his speech read on his behalf recently by Regional Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Jesca Lebba during the handing over of the refurbished Ilagala HIV Care and Treatment Clinic from the Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) to Uvinza District.
The refurbishment work which has cost a total of 270m/- is part of THPS’s five-year project dubbed ‘Afya Hatua’ funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the CDC.
The RC said the clinic was one of the various health services which are provided in the region under the support from the US Government.
“This facility plays a very crucial role in providing essential healthcare services in our area and I believe that the improvements are going to enable the health workers to serve our people in a better way.
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We are valuing the good relationship we have with the US Government which has made all this possible and we are determined to maintain it,” he noted.
Dr Redempta Mbatia, THPS Executive Director, said the organisation is committed to continue supporting the government’s efforts in ensuring friendly environment for providing high quality care and treatment services to its people.
She took time to urge the health workers to take proper care of the equipment to make them last longer. “I urge you to ensure that the facility and equipment are properly used and well maintained.
By doing so, we can guarantee that clients will continue receiving the best possible care and treatment and with that we are able to prevent cervical cancer among women in this region, hence contributing to saving lives,” she added.
Dr George Mgomella, Associate Director of programmes for CDC Tanzania, who represented Mr Michael Battle, US Ambassador to Tanzania and Dr Mahesh Swamina than, Director of CDC in Tanzania pointed out that the good spirit between the two sides has to go on to reach the victory over HIV/ AIDS in the region.
Expounding, he mentioned that since the starting of the project in the region in year 2011, it has been able to reach out to a total of 51,757 individuals living with HIV.
He went on to highlight that currently there are 22,086 individuals with HIV whereby 99 per cent of them have attained HIV Viral Load (HVL) suppression.