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Abbott Fund is modernizing laboratories at all 23 regional hospitals across Tanzania. The modernization of the first of these laboratories, at Mt. Meru Regional Hospital in Arusha, was completed and dedicated in June 2007. Beyond Muhimbili National Hospital, changes are being implemented in Tanzania at both the regional and local level. These improvements will allow the hospitals to apply for national and international funds aimed at providing access to HIV treatment.
On the local level, facilities, systems, and training have been upgraded at 90 sites throughout the country to improve voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services and to prepare for initiation of treatment programs. These improvements have included building new testing and counseling rooms to ensure patient privacy, renovating outpatient clinics and laboratories, donating laboratory equipment and rapid tests, and creating local hospital HIV management teams. For more information on the latest modernization efforts see Government of Tanzania and Abbott Fund dedicate the first in a national network of modernized laboratories.
As a result of these efforts, more than 180,000 people have been able to access testing and counseling, including patients who are accessing VCT in some rural locations for the first time.
Abbott Fund is working with the Touch Foundation in Tanzania to support 105 laboratory technology students pursuing a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Sciences at the Bugando University College of Health Sciences (BUCHS). Abbott Fund is also providing funds to renovate and upgrade the laboratory at Bugando Medical Centre (a tertiary care referral hospital for the 13 million population of the Lake Zone) to a first class diagnostic department, as well as upgrading the the laboratory at the regional hospital in Kagera.
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