press releases

USAID Mission Director Opens Art Clinic At Kabwe General Hospital

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director, James Bednar and Central Province Provincial Minister, Kennedy Shapande on April 21 officially opened the new HIV/AIDS Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic at Kabwe General Hospital that has been extensively renovated with funds from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through USAID.

Kabwe General Hospital is benefiting from the close collaboration between the Government of Zambia, the Kabwe General Hospital Board, and the U.S. Government through PEPFAR. Mr. Bednar commended the work of the staff at Kabwe General Hospital and praised the leadership of the Zambian Government and the Provincial and District Offices in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He said that Zambia is one of 15 focus countries under PEPFAR, which is globally providing US$15 billion over five years to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In 2006, Zambia will receive over US$150 million from the U.S. Government to support the Zambian Government’s national strategy in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Kabwe General Hospital is receiving support from the Zambia Prevention, Care, and Treatment Partnership (ZPCT). This program is funded by the American people and administered by Family Health International with funding from USAID through PEPFAR. ZPCT’s support includes crucial renovations to public health care facilities, provision of medical equipment and supplies, training of staff, and on-going technical assistance to rapidly scale-up quality HIV/AIDS clinical services. HIV/AIDS services available to the public at Kabwe General Hospital include confidential HIV counseling and testing with same-day results, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, treatment of opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, and free anti-retroviral therapy.

The Zambian Government estimates that at least 200,000 citizens who are HIV positive will need antiretroviral therapy to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Great strides have been made with over 45,000 people now receiving these services, free of charge, nationwide. The work at Kabwe General Hospital is an example of this success with over 1,244 clients receiving ART services through the ART Clinic.
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