Lack of CD4 machines at Kolandoto mission hospital in Shinyanga municipal, has forced health officials to transport blood samples to Shinyanga regional hospital, as Ariel Glaser Pediatric Aids Healthcare Initiative (AGPAHI) provides support of more than 200m/- towards renovation of buildings and purchase of lab equipment.
The CD4 Machine allows clinicians to know when to start people living with HIV virus on the life saving antiretroviral therapy (ARVs).
The Acting Chief Medical Officer at Kolandoto mission hospital, Dr Peres Bwire said the hospital transports blood samples to the regional hospital in Shinyanga and wait for two weeks and sometimes a month to get the results back.
“When someone is HIV positive, knowing their CD4 counts helps to determine the stage of infection and the progress of the virus,” he explained. He added that it also helps guide drug choice and when to start the patients on ARV therapy and monitor how they are responding to the drug therapy.
Dr Bwire, however, explained that efforts are underway to help the hospital acquire a CD4 machine, which costs more than 40m/- in the near future through support from AGPAHI.
“Discussions are already in motion with AGPAHI to assist the mission hospital acquire a CD4 Machine, so we can serve the patients better and on time,” he explained. According to Mr Bwire, HIV prevalence in Shinyanga municipality is one of the highest in the country, at 7.4 per cent, higher than the national HIV prevalence which is at 5.1 per cent.
AGPAHI is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) that works to eliminate Padiatric AIDs and provide HIV prevention, care and treatment services for people living with HIV in the country. The organisation supports the provision of high quality HIV services and ensures that efforts to reach the shared goal to eliminate pediatric AIDs are integrated into existing regional and district health systems.
AGPAHI has supported Kolandoto mission hospital in renovation of buildings and purchase of lab facilities including a Screen Master, biochemistry analyzer that analyzes a patient’s full blood.
“With this machine…a patient gets the result within ten minutes and we serve more than 100 patients a day, but before that it would take hours and serve one or two patients, because we were doing the procedures manually,” he explained.
Dr Peres who is also in-charge of Care and Treatment Clinic (CTC) said AGPAHI also supports Care and Treatment services for HIV families, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCTC) and Family Planning.
The hospital under the African Inland Church (AIC) is already working with 831 People Living with HIV Aids (PLHAs) patients out of which 70 are children under 14 years. Out of the 831 PLHAs, 414 are already on ARV drugs and 37 of them are children.
“The NGO supports formation of small groups for PLHAs, for both adults and children which among many things helps them accept their status and provide education for those who do not accept their status or stop using drug, in the case of adults,” he explained.
By ROSE ATHUMANI, Tanzania Daily News
